Development of a predictive in vitro dissolution for clarithromycin granular suspension based on in vitro-in vivo correlations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro behavior of different clarithromycin granular suspensions based on a developed in vitro-in vivo correlation model, using one reference and two test formulations. In vitro release rate data were obtained for each product using the USP apparatus II, operated at 50?rpm under different pH conditions. The dissolution efficiency was used to analyze the dissolution data. In vivo study was performed on six healthy male volunteers under fasting condition. Correlation was made between in vitro release and in vivo absorption. A linear model was developed using percent absorbed data versus percent dissolved data from the three products. Dissolution condition of 0.1N HCl for 1?h and then phosphate buffer at pH 6.8 was found to be the most discriminating dissolution method. Rate of absorption for the reference as estimated by Wagner-Nelson deconvolution was correlated with in vitro release with a correlation coefficient of 0.99. The in vivo results for the two test products were compared to the predicted values using the reference model with a correlation coefficient of 0.94. Furthermore, multiple level C correlations were obtained for some pharmacokinetic parameters with the corresponding in vitro kinetic parameters with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.90. Moreover, the interpretation of the in vitro and in vivo data with reference to formulations was discussed.     

The Effect of Therapeutic Horseback Riding on Gross Motor Function and Gait Speed in Children Who Are Developmentally Delayed

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of a seven-week therapeutic horseback riding program and to determine if changes were retained after therapeutic riding was discontinued. A repeated-measures within-participants design was used to assess performance on the Gross Motor Function Measure and timed 10-meter walk in seven developmentally delayed children. A statistically significant improvement in gross motor function was found in post-intervention measures. Improvements were maintained seven weeks after therapeutic riding had ended. No considerable difference in gait speed was noted. This study indicates that therapeutic riding may lead to improvement in gross motor function in developmentally delayed children and that these improvements remain once therapeutic riding ceases.     

The impact of baseline covariates on the efficiency of statistical analyses of crossover designs

We investigate the impact of baseline covariates on the efficiency of statistical analyses of crossover designs. For practical considerations, we contemplate two different baseline methods: study baselines and period‐dependent baselines. For each baseline method, we establish analytical upper bounds for the relative efficiency of a large class of crossover designs, the totally balanced designs, under a model with the baseline covariates as compared with the model without the baseline covariates. We present numerical details based on these bounds for assorted scenarios and reveal implications of these results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Repeated dose 28-day oral toxicity study of DEAE-Dextran in mice: An advancement in safety chemotherapeutics

Cancer has emerged as a global threat with challenges for safe chemotherapeutics. Most of the currently available anti-cancer drugs exhibit significant toxicity. Amongst novel agents, interferons have exhibited anti-proliferative and cytoprotective roles. However, due to stability drawbacks of interferons, we have identified an interferon inducer DEAE-Dextran, which resolves the stability issues. Based on the previous history of toxicity pertaining to the current chemotherapeutic agents, it is equally essential to determine the safety of DEAE-Dextran. In the present study, repeated dose 28 day oral toxicity of DEAE-Dextran has been evaluated in accordance to OECD-407. We found absence of any CNS behavioral changes related to self-mutilation, walking backwards, aggressiveness on handling or tonic-clonic seizures during the 28 day study. Neither the motor activity nor grip strength was altered during the treatment duration with DEAE-Dextran implying absence of any effect on the skeletal muscles. Interestingly, we also found that treatment with DEAE-Dextran did not present any significant cardiac, hepatic, renal, gastrointestinal, lymphatic or reproductive system toxicity or alteration in the body's normal physiology based upon the various organ function tests. Henceforth, it may be concluded that DEAE-Dextran is a safe anti-cancer agent devoid of any sub-acute toxicity.     

高校教育管理人员的作满意度调查

目的研究高校教育管理人员工作满意的现状及其影响因素。方法采用自编的教育管理人员工作满意度问卷对310名高校教育管理人员进行问卷调查。结果高校教育管理人员的工作满意度处于中等偏上水平,其中晋升发展的满意度最低(x珋=2.78),同事关系的满意度最高(x珋=3.91)。不同性别、年龄、职务、月收入水平的高校教育管理人员的工作满意度得分差异显著;工作满意度与工作效率具有显著的正相关(r=-0.362,P0.01),回归分析表明,在控制了人口统计变量之后,工作本身的满意度可以显著正向预测工作效率(β=0.353,P0.001)。结论高校教育管理人员对晋升发展的满意度偏低;性别、年龄、职务、月收入等显著影响高校教育管理人员的工作满意度;教育管理人员对教育管理工作本身的满意可以显著正向预测工作效率。     

Review of the Potential of the Ni/Cu Plating Technique for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Developing a better method for the metallization of silicon solar cells is integral part of realizing superior efficiency. Currently, contact realization using screen printing is the leading technology in the silicon based photovoltaic industry, as it is simple and fast. However, the problem with metallization of this kind is that it has a lower aspect ratio and higher contact resistance, which limits solar cell efficiency. The mounting cost of silver pastes and decreasing silicon wafer thicknesses encourages silicon solar cell manufacturers to develop fresh metallization techniques involving a lower quantity of silver usage and not relying pressing process of screen printing. In recent times nickel/copper (Ni/Cu) based metal plating has emerged as a metallization method that may solve these issues. This paper offers a detailed review and understanding of a Ni/Cu based plating technique for silicon solar cells. The formation of a Ni seed layer by adopting various deposition techniques and a Cu conducting layer using a light induced plating (LIP) process are appraised. Unlike screen-printed metallization, a step involving patterning is crucial for opening the masking layer. Consequently, experimental procedures involving patterning methods are also explicated. Lastly, the issues of adhesion, back ground plating, process complexity and reliability for industrial applications are also addressed.