Stability, in-Vitro and in-Vivo Release Studies from Metronidazole Ointments

The influence of ointment formulation on the stability, the in-vitro release and the in-vivo absorption through the skin of rabbits was investigated. The choice of the selected ointments has no influence on the drug stability with the exception of an acidified emulsion base. A good correlation between in-vitro release and in-vivo absorption was found revealing that metronidazole was quickly released and effectively absorbed from a polyethylene glycol base.     

Post-traumatic stress disorder and smoking: a systematic review.

We conducted a systematic review of what is known about the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and smoking to guide research on underlying mechanisms and to facilitate the development of evidence-based tobacco treatments for this population of smokers. We searched Medline, PsychINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and identified 45 studies for review that presented primary data on PTSD and smoking. Smoking rates were high among clinical samples with PTSD (40%-86%) as well as nonclinical populations with PTSD (34%-61%). Most studies showed a positive relationship between PTSD and smoking and nicotine dependence, with odds ratios ranging between 2.04 and 4.52. Findings also suggest that PTSD, rather than trauma exposure itself, is more influential for increasing risk of smoking. A small but growing literature has examined psychological factors related to smoking initiation and maintenance and the overlapping neurobiology of PTSD and nicotine dependence. Observational studies indicate that smokers with PTSD have lower quit rates than do smokers without PTSD. Yet a few tobacco cessation treatment trials in smokers with PTSD have achieved quit rates comparable with controlled trials of smokers without mental disorders. In conclusion, the evidence points to a causal relationship between PTSD and smoking that may be bidirectional. Specific PTSD symptoms may contribute to smoking and disrupt cessation attempts. Intervention studies that test behavioral and pharmacological interventions designed specifically for use in patients with PTSD are needed to reduce morbidity and mortality in this population.     

Heterogeneous Enzyme Mimics Based on Zeolites and Layered Hydroxides

Careful combination of a metal compound,a ligand and an inorganic support material leads to supramolecular catalysts that mimic the structural, organizational and functional aspects of enzyme activity.After discussing essential features of metalloenzyme-catalyzed reactions and coordination chemistry in inorganic hosts, we present examples of supramolecular materials selected from our own work that eventually resulted in useful catalysts for organic transformations in the liquid phase.     

Analysis of Caching and Replication Strategies for Web Applications

Developers often use replication and caching mechanisms to enhance Web application performance. The authors present a qualitative and quantitative analysis of state-of-the art replication and caching techniques used to host Web applications. Their analysis shows that selecting the best mechanism depends heavily on data workload and requires a careful review of the application's characteristics. They also propose a technique for Web practitioners to compare different mechanisms' performance on their own     

MC-CDMA with exponential power profile in Nakagami fading channel

A refined study of multi-carrier code division multiple access transmission over a Nakagami fading channel is proposed. The channel power is modeled with an exponential power profile rather than the uniform profile prevalent in other papers. An expression for the bit error rate (BER) is then derived. Numerical results show that MC-CDMA performances depend on the power dispersion of interferers around the desired user power.     

Fluage à long terme du bois fléchi en grandeur structurale

Résumé Cet article présente un modèle permettant de calculer le fluage de poutres fléchies de différentes sections soumises à des environnements variables en ce qui concerne l'humidité relative. Ce modèle est utilisé ici pour interpréter de nouveaux essais à long terme sur des poutres en bois massif et lamellé-collé qui ont été chargées pendant plus de 800 jours en conditions extérieures sous abri à Paris

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Summary Long term bending experiments on full size timber and glulam beams have been carried out under external and sheltered climatic conditions in Paris, and more than two years of test results on the creep behaviour of 75 beams are available. A model for predicting the long term mechanical behaviour of timber under variable humidity and load conditions, previously developed by the author, is described. The model is based on transient moisture transfer analysis linked with deformation analysis using a step-by-step computation scheme, and has been compared previously with experiments carried out under laboratory conditions of controlled variable climates by the author as well as with test results obtained from several other institutions. In general, the model has agreed satisfactorily with the experimental results. In the present paper the model is compared with experiments on full size beams carried out under the changeable conditions of a natural climate. The results show that, for low stress levels and corresponding loads, the model provides a reasonable prediction of the end creep levels after two years of loading.

     

A VISCOSITY CONSTITUTIVE EQUATION FOR PMMA—MMA SOLUTIONS

A viscosity constitutive equation has been developed to describe PMMA—MMA solutions over a wide range of concentration and temperature. The approach used here combines both free-volume and coil-coil interaction considerations. The final expression successfully correlates not only our experimental data on several solutions but also literature melt data. This equation provides an essential step in modeling tubular polymerization reactors, where the residence time distribution depends strongly on the velocity profile development in the tube, and thus the rheological properties of the reacting PMMA — MMA mixture at different conversion levels and temperatures.     

Prediction of psychoticlike symptoms in hypothetically psychosis-prone college students.

Correlates of psychotic and psychoticlike symptoms were examined in 60 college students who scored deviantly high on the Perceptual Aberration Scale. High scorers on this scale who also scored high on both the Impulsive Nonconformity Scale and the Depression subscale of the General Behavior Inventory (GBI) showed the most deviant psychotic and psychoticlike symptoms. Moreover, performance on a task of referential communication, the Password Task, was significantly related to such symptoms. The Perceptual Aberration Scale, the Impulsive Nonconformity Scale, and the GBI Depression subscale are recommended for concurrent use in mass screening to select individuals likely to exhibit psychotic or psychoticlike symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)