Novel Gold Nanoparticles for Dipeptide Recognition in Water

This work introduces a promising concept for the preparation of new nano-sized receptors. Mixed monolayer protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for low molecular weight compounds were prepared featuring functional groups on their surfaces. It has been shown that these AuNPs can engage in interactions with peptides in aqueous media. Quantitative binding information was obtained from DOSY-NMR titrations indicating that nanoparticles containing a combination of three orthogonal functional groups are more efficient in binding to dipeptides than mono or difunctionalised analogues. The strategy is highly modular and easily allows adapting the receptor selectivity to a given substrate by varying the type, number, and ratio of binding sites on the nanoparticle surface

More on partitioned possibly restricted linear regression

This paper deals with the general partitioned linear regression model where the regressor matrix X=\pmatrix{X_1 & X_2\cr} may be deficient in column rank, the dispersion matrix $V$ is possibly singular, \beta^t=\pmatrix{\beta_1^t & \beta_2^t\cr} - being partitioned according to $X$ - is the vector of unknown regression coefficients, and $\beta_2$ is possibly subject to consistent linear equality or inequality restrictions. In particular, we are interested in the set of {\it generalized least squares (GLS) selections} for $\beta_2$. Inspired by Aigner and Balestra [1], as well as by Nurhonen and Puntanen [2], we also consider a specific reduced model and describe a scenario under which the set of GLS selections for $\beta_2$ under the reduced model equals the set of GLS selections for $\beta_2$ under the original full model. The results obtained in [2] and [1] for the unrestricted {\it standard} (full rank) regression model are reobtained as special cases.Gauss-Markov model, singular model, perfect multicollinearity, partitioned linear regression, linear equality constraints, linear inequality constraints, constrained generalized least squares selections, oblique projectors, generalized inverses.

On Inequality Constrained Generalized Least Squares Selections in the General Possibly Singular

This paper deals with the general possibly singular linear model. It is assumed that in addition to the sample information we have some nonstochastic prior information concerning the unknown regression coefficients that can be expressed in form of linear independent inequality constraints. Since these constraints are part and parcel of the model the inequality constrained generalized least squares (ICGLS) problem arises that contains some unknown aspects up to now. Based on a projector theoretical approach we show in this paper how the set of ICGLS selections under the constrained model is related to the set of GLS selections under the associated unconstrained model. As a by-product we obtain an interesting method for determining an ICGLS selection from a GLS selection. The insights gained from our considerations might also be useful in a future study of the statistical properties of ICGLS estimators. Certain special model cases are also considered. Some of the results discussed in [29] and [7] are reobtained.Gauss-Markov model, singular model, perfect multicollinearity, linear inequality constraints, inequality constrained generalized least squares problem, oblique projectors, generalized inverses.

Compressive Imaging of Subwavelength Structures II. Periodic Rough Surfaces

A compressed sensing scheme for near-field imaging of corrugations of relative sparse Fourier components is proposed. The scheme employs random sparse measurement of near field to recover the angular spectrum of the scattered field. It is shown heuristically and numerically that under the Rayleigh hypothesis the angular spectrum is compressible and amenable to compressed sensing techniques. Iteration schemes are developed for recovering the surface profile from the angular spectrum. The proposed nonlinear least squares in the Fourier basis produces accurate reconstructions even when the Rayleigh hypothesis is known to be false

Aceitação da doença, da percepção da saúde e dos níveis de desesperança em sobreviventes de acidente vascular cerebral: Um estudo transversal e correlacional

Highlights Participants showed moderate levels of illness acceptance and mild levels of hopelessness. The mean health perception score was 50.30±0.59. A significant relationship was found between age, education, employment status, living arrangements, illness duration, post-stroke deficits, and independence level with illness acceptance, health perception, and hopelessness levels. Higher illness acceptance was associated with better health perception and lower hopelessness levels. However, individuals with higher health perception also exhibited higher levels of hopelessness. The level of independence, health perception, and hopelessness influenced illness acceptance, while the level of independence and illness acceptance have an effect on hopelessness. Introduction: According to the World Health Organization, stroke is a clinical condition characterized by the sudden development of focal or global signs and symptoms in cerebral functions and is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide. Objective: This study aimed to determine the levels of illness acceptance, health perception, and hopelessness of stroke survivors and to examine the relationship between these variables.   Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with 170 stroke survivors. Data were collected with the "Descriptive Information Form," "Modified Barthel Index," "Acceptance of Illness Scale," "Perception of Health Scale," and "Beck Hopelessness Scale." The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software.  Results: Participants showed moderate levels of illness acceptance and mild levels of hopelessness. The mean health perception score was 50.30±0.59. A significant relationship was found between age, education, employment status, living arrangements, illness duration, post-stroke deficits, independence level, illness acceptance, health perception, and hopelessness levels. The health perception and hopelessness levels of the participants decreased as their level of illness acceptance increased. Increasing health perception levels were also found to increase hopelessness levels. Discussion: When the literature is reviewed, there are studies that support our findings in stroke and other chronic illnesses, but there are also studies with different results. Conclusion: The study results draw attention to the levels of illness acceptance, health perception, and hope, which have not been discussed much but have important effects on the illness and rehabilitation process. How to cite this article: Yapar Sena Nur, Özkan Tuncay Fatma. Illness acceptance, health perception, and hopelessness levels in stroke survivors: A cross-sectional and correlational study. Revista Cuidarte. 2025;16(2): e4588.  https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4588Introducción: Según la Organización Mundial de la Salud el ictus es una afección clínica caracterizada por el desarrollo súbito de signos y síntomas focales o globales en las funciones cerebrales y es la segunda causa de muerte y la tercera de discapacidad en todo el mundo. Objetivo: Este estudio busca determinar los niveles de aceptación de la enfermedad, la percepción de salud y la desesperanza de los supervivientes de accidentes cerebrovasculares e investigar la relación entre estas variables. Materiales y Métodos: Este estudio se realizó con 170 supervivientes de accidentes cerebrovasculares. Se recogieron datos con el «Formulario descriptivo», el «Índice Barthel modificado», la «Escala de aceptación de enfermedades», la «Escala de percepción de salud» y la «Escala de desesperanza de Beck». Los datos se analizaron con el programa SPSS 21.0. Resultados: Los participantes mostraron niveles moderados de aceptación de la enfermedad y niveles leves de desesperanza. La puntuación media de la percepción de salud fue de 50,30±0,59. Se encontró una relación significativa entre edad, educación, situación laboral, composición del hogar, duración de la enfermedad, déficits posictus y nivel de independencia, y entre la aceptación de la enfermedad, la percepción de salud y la desesperanza. Se observó que la percepción de salud y los niveles de desesperanza de los participantes disminuían a medida que aumentaba su nivel de aceptación de la enfermedad. También se observó que el aumento de los niveles de percepción de salud incrementaba los niveles de desesperanza.   Discusión: Cuando se revisa la literatura, hay estudios que apoyan nuestros hallazgos en ictus y otras enfermedades crónicas, pero también hay estudios con resultados diferentes. Conclusiones: Con los resultados del estudio, se llama la atención sobre los niveles de aceptación de la enfermedad, la percepción de salud y la esperanza, de los cuales no se ha hablado mucho, pero que tienen efectos importantes en el proceso de enfermedad y rehabilitación. Como citar este artículo: Yapar Sena Nur, Özkan Tuncay Fatma. Illness acceptance, health perception, and hopelessness levels in stroke survivors: A cross-sectional and correlational study. Revista Cuidarte. 2025;16(2): e4588.  https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.4588Introdução: De acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde, o AVC é uma condição clínica caracterizada pelo desenvolvimento súbito de sinais e sintomas focais ou globais nas funções cerebrais e é a segunda principal causa de morte e a terceira principal causa de incapacidade em todo o mundo. Objetivo:  Neste estudo, o objetivo foi determinar os níveis de aceitação da doença, percepção da saúde e desesperança dos sobreviventes de AVC e investigar a relação entre as variáveis. Materiais e Métodos: Este estudo foi realizado com 170 sobreviventes de AVC. Os dados foram coletados com o “Formulário de Informações Descritivas”, o “Índice de Barthel Modificado”, a “Escala de Aceitação da Doença”, a “Escala de Percepção da Saúde” e a “Escala Beck de Desesperança”. Os dados foram analisados com o software SPSS 21.0.  Resultados: Os participantes apresentaram níveis moderados de aceitação da doença e níveis leves de desesperança. A pontuação média de percepção da saúde foi de 50,30±0,59. Foi encontrada uma relação significativa entre idade, escolaridade e situação de trabalho, coabitantes, duração da doença, déficits pós-AVC e nível de independência e níveis de aceitação da doença, percepção da saúde e desesperança. Verificou-se que os níveis de percepção de saúde e desesperança dos participantes diminuíram à medida que o nível de aceitação da doença aumentou. O aumento dos níveis de percepção da saúde também aumentou os níveis de desesperança. Discussão:  Quando a literatura é revisada, há estudos que apoiam nossos achados no AVC e em outras doenças crônicas, mas também há estudos com resultados diferentes. Conclusões: Com os resultados do estudo, chama-se a atenção para os níveis de aceitação da doença, percepção da saúde e esperança, que não foram muito discutidos, mas que têm efeitos importantes sobre a doença e o processo de reabilitação. Como citar este artigo: Yapar Sena Nur, Özkan Tuncay Fatma. Illness acceptance, health perception, and hopelessness levels in stroke survivors: A cross-sectional and correlational study. Revista Cuidarte. 2025;16(2): e4588.  https://doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.458

Nasal Inserts for Drug Delivery: An Overview

Nasal mucosa, owing to its high vascularity and thin epithelial membrane, has been widely explored for drug administration in the last two decades. Within that period various nasal dosage forms have been researched and developed. Among them, nasal inserts are easily prepared by lyophilization or gelsification, allow easy dosing with a high potential for systemic  administration, enable avoidance of hepatic first pass metabolism, and make possible the release of active ingredient in a controlled manner. In this review, the benefits, limitations and absorption mechanisms of the nasal route, as well as findings from nasal insert-related studies are addressed.Keywords: Nasal drug delivery, Insert, Mucoadhesion, Absorption, Lyophilization, Gelsificatio

Pharmaceutical Approaches and Advancements in Male Contraception

Currently available contraceptive methods offer a variety of options for women, but only very few for men which include surgical methods, condom and hormonal methods. Non-surgical and non-hormonal methods are under investigation. Among these, hormonal contraceptive approaches, including injections, oral and transdermal delivery systems of testosterone, have attracted the attention of investigators. Also non-hormonal approaches based on chemicals extracted from different plants suchas cotton seed plant, Neem tree, Trypterigium wilfordii and Momordica Charantia seed, are known to have effect on male fertility. Additionally, alkylated imino sugars, Ca++ channel blockers, indenopyridines, indazole-3-carboxylic acid analogues, reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance(RISUG) which involves injection of stericmaleic anhydride with dimethyl sulfoxide, spermicide– microbicide (including gel formulations) and vaccine approaches are intended to interfere in a certain fertilization step. Information obtained from multi-center studies in several countries on both men or women shows the necessity for additional reversible male contraceptive methods. Results from recent surveys clearly indicate that there is a market and a need for novel pharmaceutical preparations formale contraception.Keywords: Male Contraception, Contraceptive agents, Hormonal method

Poly(ethylene oxide)–Poly(propylene oxide)-Based Copolymers for Transdermal Drug Delivery: An Overview

Amphiphilic poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide) (PEO–PPO)-based copolymers are thermoresponsive materials having aggregation properties in aqueous medium. As hydrosolubilizers of poorly water-soluble drugs and improved stability of sensitive agents, these materials have been investigated for improvement in solubility, stability, release and bioavailability of drugs. The goal of the present review is to summarize the properties of PEO–PPO based copolymers and highlight the works that have been carried out on these materials for transdermal drug delivery.Keywords: PEO–PPO based copolymer, Poloxamer, Hydrogel, Transdermal, Drug delivery

METHOD DECISION FOR DETERMINING SPECIFIC MICROORGANISMS IN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS: AN OVERVIEW

In the direction of microbiological quality control analysis in pharmaceutical products, determining the microbiological load of the product at the end-use stage is very important for human health. Quality control parameters in pharmaceutical products vary according to the structure of the type of product and administration route. In this context, according to the pharmacopoeias, parenteral products and eye drops are classified as sterile products and the other group of pharmaceuticals are classified as non-sterile products. However, non-sterile pharmaceuticals also must have a certain microbiological quality. For this reason, the pharmaceuticals should have a certain microbiological load and should not contain defined microorganisms specified to its type. Since the control of the microbiological quality of the products is important for safety, it should be determined by quality control analysis. In this study, standard methods used to detect specific microorganism in pharmaceutical products were compared. Application steps in standard methods and identification tests of specific microorganisms were examined. In addition, studies that are alternative to standard methods were evaluated.                                             Peer Review History: Received: 5 September 2020; Revised: 20 October; Accepted: 28 October, Available online: 15 November 2020 Academic Editor: Dr. Muhammad Zahid Iqbal, AIMST University, Malaysia, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 8.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Mujde Eryilmaz, Ankara University,Turkey, [email protected] Dr. Rawaa Souhil Al-Kayali, Aleppo University, Syria, [email protected] Similar Articles: CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF THE ESSENTIAL OILS OF FOUR VARIETIES OF LIPPIA MULTIFLORA IN BENIN ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES FOR HADHRAMI HONEY ON GROWTH OF SOME PATHOGENIC BACTERI