Probabilistic key for identifying vegetation types in the field: A new method and Android application

Quick identification of vegetation types in the field, based on species composition but not requiring time‐consuming plot sampling, is often needed for vegetation mapping, conservation assessment, teaching and other applications of vegetation classification. Here, we propose a new method that identifies the probability of belonging to the units of an established vegetation classification for vegetation stands encountered in the field. The method is based on calculating the probability that a few species observed in the field would co‐occur in a priori defined vegetation types, using the existing information on species occurrence frequency in these types. The method has been implemented in a freely available Android application called Probabilistic Vegetation Key, which makes it possible to employ it in the field using smartphones or tablets, even in the absence of internet access.     

Formulation, evaluation, and comparison of bilayered and multilayered mucoadhesive buccal devices of propranolol hydrochloride

The purpose of this research work was to establish mucoadhesive buccal devices of propranolol hydrochloride (PRH) in the forms of bilayered and multilayered tablets. The tablets were prepared using sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and Carbopol-934 (CP) as bioadhesive polymers to impart mucoadhesion and ethyl cellulose (EC) to act as an impermeable backing layer. Buccal devices were evaluated by different parameters such as weight uniformity, content uniformity, thickness, hardness, surface pH, swelling index, ex vivo mucoadhesive strength, ex vivo mucoadhesion time, in vitro drug release, and in vitro drug permeation. As compared with bilayered tablets, multilayered tablets showed slow release rate of drug with improved ex vivo bioadhesive strength and enhanced ex vivo mucoadhesion time. The mechanism of drug release was found to be non-Fickian diffusion (value of n between 0.5 and 1.0) for both the buccal devices. The stability of drug in both the optimized buccal devices was tested for 6 hours in natural human saliva; both the buccal devices were found to be stable in natural human saliva. The present study concludes that mucoadhesive buccal devices of PRH can be a good way to bypass the extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism and to improve the bioavailability of PRH. Published: March 16, 2007     

Local and average gloss from flat-faced sodium chloride tablets

The purpose of this study was to detect local gloss and surface structure changes of sodium chloride tablets. The changes in surface structure were reflected by gloss variation, which was measured using a diffractive optical element-based gloss-meter (DOG). By scanning a surface area, we constructed a 2-dimensional gloss map that characterized the tablet’s surface structure. The gloss variation results were compared with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images and average surface roughness values that were measured by conventional diamond stylus profilometry. The profilometry data showed a decrease in tablet surface roughness as a function of compression force. In general, a smoother surface contributes to higher average gloss values. The average gloss values for this material, in contrast, showed a decrease as a function of the compression force. The sequence of particle fragmentation and deformation together with crack formation in sodium chloride particles resulted in a loss of gloss for single sodium chloride particles at the tablet surfaces, which could be detected by the DOG. These results were supported by the SEM images. The results show that detailed information regarding tablets’ surface structure changes can be obtained by detection of local gloss variation and average gloss. Published: January 13, 2006     

The suitability of disintegrating force kinetics for studying the effect of manufacturing parameters on spironolactone tablet properties

The aim of this paper was to study the effect of the granulate properties and tablet compression force on disintegrating force behavior in order to investigate the capability of the disintegrating force to characterize tablets that have the same composition but were manufactured in different conditions. Several tablets containing spironolactone in the external or internal granulated mixture of calcium carbonate and maize starch differing in particle size distribution, were prepared at 3 compression levels. The force developed by tablets during water uptake and disintegration was measured and plotted versus time. The curves obtained were analyzed by the Weibull equation in order to calculate the parameters characterizing the tablet disintegration kinetics. The disintegrating force time parameter, the maximum force developed, and the area under the curve were determined. In general, the reduction of time parameter value and/or the increase in maximum force developed corresponded to an acceleration in tablet disintegration. In addition, the area under the force curve increased in stronger tablets, monitoring in a sensitive way the tablet structural changes introduced by compression force. The results showed that the disintegrating force measurement can detect small changes in the structure of the tablet that cannot be discriminated by pharmacopoeia tests. The effect of manufacturing, in particular compression force, on tablet properties was quantified by the parameters of disintegrating force kinetics.     

氨基酮戊酸光动力联合一清片治疗中重度痤疮效果及对血清学指标的影响

摘要 目的：观察氨基酮戊酸光动力联合一清片治疗中重度痤疮疗效以及对血清学指标的影响。方法：将93例中重度痤疮患者进行随机分组,31例为治疗组,31例为参照组1,31例为参照组2。治疗组采用氨基酮戊酸光动力联合一清片治疗,参照组1采用氨基酮戊酸光动力治疗,参照组2采用一清片治疗,观察三组治疗前、后患者痤疮严重程度分级系统(GAGS)评分、痤疮特异性生活质量量表（Qol-Acne）评分变化及性激素结合球蛋白（SHBG）、游离睾酮（FT）、雌二醇（E₂）、补体C3、免疫球蛋白IgG、IgM水平,比较三组临床疗效。结果：治疗组FT水平低于参照组1和参照组2（P＜0.05）,治疗组SHBG、E₂水平高于参照组1和参照组2（P＜0.05）,治疗组补体C3、IgG、IgM水平低于参照组1和参照组2（P＜0.05）,治疗组Qol-Acne评分较参照组1和参照组2高（P＜0.05）,治疗组GAGS评分较参照组1和参照组2低（P＜0.05）,治疗组总有效率（93.55%）高于参照组1（77.42%）和参照组2（64.52%）（P＜0.05）。结论：氨基酮戊酸光动力联合一清片治疗中重度痤疮患者,可调节患者内分泌,改善性激素水平及免疫状态,缓解患者痤疮症状,提升生活质量及临床疗效。     

Movement of different-shaped particles in a pan-coating device using novel video-imaging techniques

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of particle shape on the movement of particles in a pan-coating device using novel video-imaging techniques. An area scan CCD camera was installed inside a 24-in pan coater at the same location as that of a spray nozzle, and the movement of particle was tracked using machine vision. A white tracer particle was introduced inside a bed of black-coated particles. The effects of pan loading, pan speed, and particle shape on the movement of particles was studied. The response variables were circulation time, surface time, projected area of particle per pass, dynamic angle of repose, cascading velocity, and dispersion coefficient. Experiments were conducted at 3 different pan speeds, 6, 9, and 12 rpm, and 2 fill levels (ratio of bed depth to pan diameter), one eighth and one quarter, and data were collected over a 30-minute time period. The differences in circulation times of spheres and tablets, with similar volume equivalent diameter as that of the sphere, were found to be insignificant at the 95% confidence interval. The circulation time ranged from 2.8 to 10.8 seconds depending on the operating condition and increased with increasing pan load and decreasing pan speed. The distributions of circulation time, surface time, and projected surface area were found to be nonnormal. The dynamic angle of repose for tablets was higher than for spheres. Also, the bed surface for spheres was much flatter in comparison with tablets where the bed shape attained a “wave-like” form. The average velocity of tablets in the cascading layer was found to be significantly higher than spheres. A linear model (R ²>0.98) best described the variation of velocity as a function of pan speed for all of the operating conditions. Published: October 6, 2005     

Functionality comparison of 3 classes of superdisintegrants in promoting aspirin tablet disintegration and dissolution

The aims of this study are (1) to compare the disintegration efficiency, and (2) to develop a discriminating test model for the 3 classes of superdisintegrants represented by Ac-Di-Sol, Primojel, and Polyplasdone XL10. Using a digital video camera to examine the disintegration process of tablets containing the same wt/wt percentage concentration of the disintegrants, Ac-Di-Sol was found to disintegrate tablets rapidly into apparently primary particles; Primojel also apparently disintegrated tablets into primary particles but more slowly; Polyplasdone XL10 disintegrated tablets rapidly but into larger masses of aggregated particles. The differences in the size distribution generated in the disintegrated tablets likely contribute to the drug dissolution rate differences found for aspirin tablets with similar disintegration rates. The aspirin tablet matrix is proposed as a model formulation for disintegrant efficiency comparison and performance consistency testing for quality control purposes. Published: December 12, 2005     

Hydrophilic excipients modulate the time lag of time-controlled disintegrating press-coated tablets

An oral press-coated tablet was developed by means of direct compression to achieve the time-controlled disintegrating or rupturing function with a distinct predetermined lag time. This press-coated tablet containing sodium diclofenac in the inner core was formulated with an outer shell by different weight ratios of hydrophobic polymer of micronized ethylcellulose (EC) powder and hydrophilic excipients such as spray-dried lactose (SDL) or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The effect of the formulation of an outer shell comprising both hydrophobic polymer and hydrophilic excipients on the time lag of drug release was investigated. The release profile of the press-coated tablet exhibited a time period without drug release (time lag) followed by a rapid and complete release phase, in which the outer shell ruptured or broke into 2 halves. The lag phase was markedly dependent on the weight ratios of EC/SDL or EC/HPMC in the outer shell. Different time lags of the press-coated tablets from 1.0 to 16.3 hours could be modulated by changing the type and amount of the excipients. A semilogarithmic plot of the time lag of the tablet against the weight ratios of EC/SDL or EC/HPMC in the outer shell demonstrated a good linear relationship, withr=0.976 andr=0.982, respectively. The predetermined time lag prior to the drug release from a press-coated tablet prepared by using a micronized EC as a retarding coating shell can be adequately scheduled with the addition of hydrophilic excipients according to the time or site requirements.     

Identification keys on mobile devices: The Dryades experience

Abstract

This article describes the experience of project Dryades, coordinated by the University of Trieste, in developing interactive identification keys in the form of applications for mobile devices (iPhone/iPad/iPodtouch). All of our keys were previously generated from a database of morpho-anatomical characters using software FRIDA. The applications for mobile devices, which were tested Europe-wide during the project KeyToNature, have proved to be useful in education, in the promotion of nature-aware tourism and in projects of citizen science. The first-generation apps were stand-alone packages which consisted into a sequence of stand-alone HTML pages, while those of the second generation do incorporate the digital key as a true database into the mobile device. All of the hitherto published applications are basically in the form of illustrated dichotomous keys. Future developments will also include a multi-entry query interface, and will be extended to devices which use the Android system.     

苯磺酸左旋氨氯地平片联合脂必泰治疗糖尿病合并冠心病痰瘀交阻证的临床疗效观察

摘要目的：观察苯磺酸左旋氨氯地平片联合脂必泰胶囊治疗糖尿病合并冠心病痰瘀交阻证的临床疗效。方法：120例糖尿病性冠心病痰瘀交阻证患者随机分为两组,均给与注射胰岛素控制血糖。对照组（n=60）给与阿托伐他汀10mg,每日1次口服。治疗组（n=60）给与苯磺酸左旋氨氯地平片5mg,每天1次口服;脂必泰胶囊1粒,每天2次口服。两组均治疗3个月。分析比较治疗前后空腹血糖（FBG）、总胆固醇（TC）等指标,心电图（ECG）,并记录中医症状积分。结果：治疗组总有效率86．67％,对照组总有效率51．67％,两组相比较,差异有显著性（P〈0．01）。两组空腹血糖（VBO）、糖化血红蛋白（HbAlc）、甘油三酯（TO）等指标治疗后与治疗前比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）。治疗后治疗组总胆固醇（TC）、高密度脂蛋白（HDL．C）与对照组相比较,变化显著（P〈0．05）。治疗组中医症状积分下降较对照组明显（P〈O．05或P〈0．01）。结论：苯磺酸左旋氨氯地平片联合脂必泰胶囊治疗糖尿病性冠心病痰瘀交阻证疗效确切。