Search

The aim of this work was to prepare and optimize a solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system pre-concentrate (SSP) containing water-insoluble flurbiprofen (FL) using a novel pseudo-ternary phase diagram. The pseudo-ternary phase diagram, composed of FL as the drug and dispersion core, Kollisolv MCT 70 as the oil phase, and TPGS (tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate) as the surfactant, was constructed for the determination of the SSP region. SSP was investigated in terms of particle size, physical state by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), in vitro dissolution and oral pharmacokinetics in rats. The determined SSP (FL/Kollisolv MCT 70/TPGS = 10/10/80, weight %) in the pseudo-ternary phase diagram had the melting point of 32.37 &deg, C and uniform mean particle size of below 30 nm without any precipitation of FL in the dispersion. In the dissolution test, the SSP exhibited 95.70 &plusmn, 3.40% of release at 15 min, whereas the raw FL showed poor dissolution (i.e., 6.75 &plusmn, 1.30%) at that time point. In addition, the SSP showed the enhanced oral absorption (i.e., 1.93-fold increase in AUCinfinite) as compared to the suspension group of raw FL. Therefore, the developed SSP would be a promising drug delivery system with excellent solubilization, dissolution, and bioavailability for FL.

${\mathrm{CeIr}}_{3}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{7}$ is an antiferromagnetic metal with a remarkably low ordering temperature ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}=0.63\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, while most Ce-based magnets order between 2 and 15 K. Thermodynamic and transport properties as a function of magnetic field or pressure do not show signatures of Kondo correlations, interaction competition, or frustration, as had been observed in a few antiferromagnets with comparably low or lower ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$. The averaged Weiss temperature measured below 10 K is comparable to ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$, suggesting that the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida exchange coupling is very weak in this material. The unusually low ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}$ in ${\mathrm{CeIr}}_{3}{\mathrm{Ge}}_{7}$ can therefore be attributed to the large Ce-Ce bond length of about 5.7 \AA{}, which is about 1.5 \AA{} larger than in the most Ce-based intermetallic systems.

Polylactide (PLA)/poly(1,4-cyclohexanedimethylene isosorbide terephthalate) (PEICT) blends were prepared by melt processing. Oligomer, with multiple epoxy functional groups, were introduced as a reactive compatibilizer to enhance interfacial adhesion of the two blend components. The reaction between the reactive compatibilizer and blend components was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy and rheological analysis. The improved compatibility of the blends reduced interfacial tension between polymer components, yielding a co-continuous phase morphology from a sea–island morphology. The added PEICT improved the impact strength of PLA to 22.5 kJ/m2 at 40% loading. After compatibilization and the impact strength of PLA/PEICT blends increased to 44.1 kJ/m2, showing that increased interfacial adhesion improved energy transfer between the polymers.

The objective of this study was to optimize thermoreversible gel formulations with respect to their gelation temperature and solubilizing capacity, using quality by design (QbD) principles based on design of experiment (DoE). Independent variables, X

The aim of this study was to develop a coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) microemulsion system with improved solubility, penetration, and wound healing efficacy. Based on the pseudo-ternary diagram, microemulsions containing isopropyl myristate (IPM), Cremophor EL&reg, and Transcutol&reg, HP were selected and confirmed to be nanosized (&lt, 20 nm) and thermodynamically stable based on the dilution and thermodynamic stability tests. The CoQ10-loaded microemulsion with a surfactant/co-surfactant (S/CoS) ratio of 2:1 (w/w %) demonstrated a higher permeation efficacy compared to microemulsions with S/CoS ratio of 3:1 or 4:1 (w/w %). Additionally, the CoQ10-loaded microemulsion with an S/CoS ratio of 2:1 demonstrated a relatively rapid wound healing effect in keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Overall, these data suggest that a microemulsion based on IPM, Cremophor EL&reg, HP could be an effective vehicle for the topical administration of CoQ10 and could be utilized for the application of other therapeutic agents that have difficulty in penetrating the skin.

The aim of this work was to prepare and assess a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) containing water-insoluble orlistat that was used for the inhibition of lipase activity in gastrointestinal lumen. The pseudo-ternary phase diagram, composed of orlistat and medium chain triglycerides (MCT) as oil phase and Cremophor EL as surfactant, was made for the confirmation of giving SNEDDS preconcentrate. The physical state, particle size dispersed in water, dissolution and lipase inhibition of SNEDDS preconcentrates were investigated. The appointed SNEDDS preconcentrates in the pseudo-ternary phase diagram showed no endothermic peak of orlistat and a liquid state. The particle sizes of SNEDDS dispersed with water were uniform and in the range of200 nm. In the dissolution test, the liquid SNEDDS preconcentrate and solid state mixture exhibited 90.89±2.03% versus 22.42±3.71% at 60 min., respectively, whereas the raw orlistat showed no significant dissolution rate. The SNEDDS preconcentrate showed a lipase inhibition of 92.42±1.58% until 60 min., with no significant inhibition activity of orlistat. Therefore, the SNEDDS preconcentrate presented in this work solubilized orlistat and increased its dissolution rate, and resulted in sufficient inhibitory action on lipase.

The aim of this study is to develop an effective delivery system (silica microparticles) encapsulating volatile essential oil (EO) by multiple emulsification process and sol-gel method. Depending on critical materials (Pluronic P123 and HPC) and process parameter (drying temperature), silica microparticles were prepared and evaluated. As results, the amount of EO inside microparticles increased in polymer-dependent manners. On the other hand, the amount of EO was reduced as drying temperature increased. Based on these data, the condition fabricating silica microparticles was optimized: drying temperature (25 °C), Pluronic P123 (1.2%) and HPC (1.2%). The size and morphology of microparticles were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Also, the loadings and release profiles of EO in these particles were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC. Optimized silica microparticles showed the high encapsulation efficiency (32.7%) and sustained-release profiles of EO for 3 days. Taken together, silica microparticles are effective carrier for encapsulating volatile materials and providing sustained-release.

Ecabet has a mucosal protection and anti

This study aims at developing and evaluating reconstitutable dry suspension (RDS) improved for dissolution rate, oral absorption, and convenience of use of poorly water-soluble celecoxib (CXB). Micro-sized CXB particle was used to manufacture nanosuspension by using bead milling and then RDS was made by spray-drying the nanosuspension with effective resuspension agent, dextrin. The redispersibility, morphology, particle size, crystallinity, stability, dissolution, and pharmacokinetic profile of the RDS were evaluated. RDS was effectively reconstituted into nanoparticles in 775.8 &plusmn, 11.6 nm. It was confirmed that CXB particles are reduced into needle-shape ones in size after the bead-milling process, and the description of CXB was the same in the reconstituted suspension. Through the CXB crystallinity study using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and XRD analysis, it was identified that CXB has the CXB active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)&rsquo, s original crystallinity after the bead milling and spray-drying process. In vitro dissolution of RDS was higher than that of CXB powder (93% versus 28% dissolution at 30 min). Furthermore, RDS formulation resulted in 5.7 and 6.3-fold higher area under the curve (AUC&infin, ) and peak concentration (Cmax) of CXB compared to after oral administration of CXB powder in rats. Collectively, our results suggest that the RDS may be a potential oral dosage formulation for CXB to improve its bioavailability and patient compliance.

Nanostructured supramolecular assemblies with hydrophobic cavities are used for improving the solubility, bioavailability, and stability of poorly water soluble drugs. In particular, host-guest inclusion using 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) is a typical approach in the pharmaceutical field. In this study, celecoxib (CXB), a cyclooxygenase-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), was used as the model drug (guest material) and effectively incorporated into HP-β-CD (host material). After forming a complete complex of HP-β-CD and CXB, 1-adamantylamine (ADA) was used to allow CXB to be released from the HP-β-CD in a concentration-dependent manner. This was revealed from Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and drug dissolution studies. Notably, the use of ADA, which is a high-affinity guest molecule, with cyclodextrin accelerated the removal of CXB from the host material through the exchange of guest molecules. Taken together, the host-guest based approach using a second guest molecule is useful for regulating on-demand drug release and could therefore be a potential tool for biomedical applications.

This study aimed to verify habitual smoking effects on cardiopulmonary function in taekwondo athletes. Subjects were university taekwondo athletes aged 20-24 years in nonsmoker (n= 9) and smoker (n= 6) groups. Subjects underwent an exercise examination for their ventilation threshold, minute ventilation, oxygen uptake, maximum volume of minute oxygen consumption, heart rate, and oxygen pulse during exercise and 1, 3, and 5 min after maximum exercise. The time of reaching the ventilation threshold was significantly higher in nonsmokers than in smokers. Heart rate during recovery after maximum exercise was significantly lower in nonsmokers for 1 and 3 min. Nonsmokers had significantly higher time for reaching the ventilation threshold and heart rate recovery at 1 and 3 min after exercise. The higher timing of accumulation fatigue in ventilation amount and faster recovery after exercise are useful in continuous exercise and improving athletic performance. Thus, athletes should stop smoking as soon as possible to improve their aerobic physical fitness and athletic performance.

A simple, accurate and cost-effective ultraviolet-high performance liquid chromatography (UV-HPLC) assay method was developed and validated for the determination of derivatized memantine, a representative oral noncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist to treat Alzheimer’s disease, in dissolution medium. Optimized derivatization process of memantine was performed with 9-fluorenylmethyl-chloroformate (FMOC), and injected with the UV-HPLC system for quantitation. Derivatized memantine were separated on a reverse phase C18 column (Shiseido, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with a mixture of 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 4, adjusted with orthophosphoric acid) and Acetonitrile (20:80, v/v), at a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min. UV detection was monitored at 265 nm. The detector response was specific and linear over the concentration range of 1.0–20.0 μg/mL. Validation parameters of derivatized memantine with the sensitivity, selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision and stability in dissolution medium (pH 1.2) were acceptable based on International Conference on Harmonization Q2 (R1). The assay method validated in this work was successfully applied for a dissolution study of a commercial tablet containing memantine hydrochloride (i.e., Ebixa®, 10 mg). Thus, the developed method would be appropriate for routine in vitro dissolution studies of memantine hydrochloride tablet.

We report on thermodynamic, magnetization, and muon spin relaxation measurements of the strong spin-orbit coupled iridate ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{3}{\mathrm{IrTi}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{9}$, which constitutes a distinct frustration motif made up of a mixture of edge- and corner-sharing triangles. In spite of a strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction of the order of 100 K, we find no hint for long-range magnetic order down to 23 mK. The magnetic specific heat data unveil $T$-linear and $T$-squared dependences at low temperatures below 1 K. At the respective temperatures, the zero-field muon spin relaxation features a persistent spin dynamics, indicative of unconventional low-energy excitations. A comparison to the $4d$ isostructural compound ${\mathrm{Ba}}_{3}{\mathrm{RuTi}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{9}$ suggests that a concerted interplay of compasslike magnetic interactions and frustrated geometry promotes a dynamically fluctuating state in a triangle-based iridate.

For the last few decades, researchers have been intrigued by multipolar ordering phenomena while looking for the related quantum criticality in the heavy-fermion Kondo system Ce$_{1-x}$La$_{x}$B$_6$. However, critical phenomena induced by substitution level ($x$), temperature ($T$), and magnetic field ($B$) are poorly understood despite a large collection of experimental results is available. In this work, we present $T$-$B$, $x$-$T$, and $x$-$B$ phase diagrams of Ce$_{1-x}$La$_x$B$_6$ ($\mathbf{B}\parallel[110]$). These are completed by analyzing heat capacity, magnetocaloric effect (MCE), and elastic neutron scattering. A drastic increase of the Sommerfeld coefficient $\gamma_0$, which is estimated from the heat capacity down to 0.05 K, is observed with increasing $x$. The precise $T$-$B$ phase diagram which includes an unforeseen high-entropy region is drawn by analyzing the MCE for the first time in Ce$_{1-x}$La$_x$B$_6$. The $x$-$B$ phase diagram, which supports the existence of a QCP at $x>0.75$, is obtained by the same analysis. A detailed interpretation of phase diagrams strongly indicates positive correlation between the fluctuating multipoles and the effective electron mass., Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures

To improve oral absorption and patient compliance when using amlodipine, novel coated dextrin microcapsules incorporable into orally disintegrating tablets (ODT's) were investigated. Amlodipine-loaded dextrin microcapsules (ADM) were prepared by spray-drying a mixture of amlodipine free base dissolved in ethanol and aqueous dextrin solution. The ADM were suspended in Eudragit(®) EPO solution in ethanol and subsequently spray-dried to collect coated ADM (CADM). The ADM or CADM were blended with ODT excipients and then directly compressed into ODTs. The ADM and CADM used were both spherical with smooth surfaces and had mean particle sizes of 13.3 and 18.5μm, respectively. Amlodipine was dispersed in an amorphous state and was readily encapsulated within ADM or CADM. Unlike the ADM, the tableted CADM remained intact without rupture during tableting, which was consistent with no loss of ethanol (0.82%) entrapped in the ODTs containing the CADM (ODTs-CADM). The amlodipine content appeared to be uniformly maintained as designed in all the dextrin microcapsules and ODTs. The ODTs-CADM compressed with 3kp of hardness showed acceptable ODT characteristics: fast disintegration time (29.8s) and low friability (0.1%). Drug dissolution from the ODTs-CADM was much faster than that of amlodipine free base itself at both pH 1.2 and 6.8 over the tested time. CADM demonstrated significantly higher plasma concentrations (2.7 fold in AUC0-24h and 2.5 fold in Cmax) in SD rats than did amlodipine free base. These results indicate that CADM substantially increased the oral absorption of amlodipine and can be incorporated into ODTs while maintaining their original physicochemical features. The dextrin microcapsules coated using Eudragit(®) EPO may be applied to the development of an amlodipine ODT formulation for improving geriatric patient compliance.

An efficient and simple protocol for the Meyer–Schuster rearrangement of propargyl alcohols into α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds has been developed using catalytic amounts of p-toluenesulfonic acid in 1,2-dichloroethane.

The intestinal absorption and antiasthmatic efficacy of poorly water-soluble curcumin (CUR), which has low solubility and permeability, was increased by fabricating solid dispersion granules (SDGs). The SDG containing CUR (SDG-CUR) was prepared by dispersing CUR in excess Cremophor RH40 as a solubilizer and Ryoto sugar ester L-1695 as an absorption enhancer using fluid bed granulation. We evaluated the physicochemical properties such as crystallinity and dissolution, pharmacokinetics, and antiasthmatic efficacy of SDG-CUR. Our results showed that CUR was molecularly dispersed, and the dissolution of SDG-CUR was significantly higher than that of native CUR. In addition, the blood concentration of SDG-CUR in rats was much higher than that of native CUR. Compared to CUR, SDG-CUR showed a 9.1- and 13.1-fold increase in area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), respectively. Further, SDG-CUR effectively alleviated airway hyperresponsiveness and levels of T-helper 2 cytokines (interleukin-4, interleukin-5, and interleukin-13) in a murine model of asthma. In conclusion, our results suggest that the SDGs could be considered as a potential oral formulation to enhance the absorption and efficacy of CUR.

D-allulose, a C-3 epimer of D-fructose, is a rare monosaccharide used as a food ingredient or a sweetener. In the present study, the in vitro metabolic stability of D-allulose was examined in biorelevant media, that is, simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF) containing digestive enzymes, and in cryopreserved human and rat hepatocytes. The hepatocyte metabolic stabilities of D-allulose were also investigated and compared with those of fructose and erythritol (a sugar-alcohol with no calorific value). D-allulose was highly stable in SGF (97.8% remained after 60 min) and in FaSSIF (101.3% remained after 240 min), indicating it is neither pH-labile nor degraded in the gastrointestinal tract. D-allulose also exhibited high levels of stability in human and rat hepatocytes (94.5&ndash, 96.8% remained after 240 min), whereas fructose was rapidly metabolized (43.1&ndash, 52.6% remained), which suggested these two epimers are metabolized in completely different ways in the liver. The effects of D-allulose on glucose and fructose levels were negligible in hepatocytes. Erythritol was stable in human and rat hepatocytes (102.1&ndash, 102.9% remained after 240 min). Intravenous pharmacokinetic studies in rats showed D-allulose was eliminated with a mean half-life of 72.2 min and a systemic clearance of 15.8 mL/min/kg. Taken together, our results indicate that D-allulose is not metabolized in the liver, and thus, unlikely to contribute to hepatic energy production.

This paper attempts to examine the grounds of the Korean Constitutional Court’s decision on Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax (November 13, 2008) within the perspective of Rawls’public reason. It focuses on the internal moral beliefs and external conditions of the judges that may affect their judgment. Rawls takes the Supreme Court as the exemplar of public reason. He believes that Supreme Court judges are highly educated and trained persons that deliberate in terms of public reason, even if exposed to the real world. However, our analysis of the Korean Constitutional Court’s decision on the Comprehensive Real Estate Holding Tax shows that the judges’ individual moral faith as well as their social status inevitably affected their decision. This observation runs counter to Rawls’expectation of the role of public reason. Nonetheless, ordinary citizens have responded to this decision by resorting either to public reason or to their fundamental interests, triggering continuous public debates and reflection. These public responses have driven Rawls’public reason in the real political process─seriously constrained by the internal as well as external factors affecting its representatives─to exercise its civilizing force.

Molecular quantum magnetism involving an isolated spin state is of particular interest due to the characteristic quantum phenomena underlying spin qubits or molecular spintronics for quantum information devices, as demonstrated in magnetic metal–organic molecular systems, the so-called molecular magnets. Here we report the molecular quantum magnetism realized in an inorganic solid Ba3Yb2Zn5O11 with spin–orbit coupled pseudospin-½ Yb3+ ions. The magnetization represents the magnetic quantum values of an isolated Yb4 tetrahedron with a total (pseudo)spin 0, 1 and 2. Inelastic neutron scattering results reveal that a large Dzyaloshinsky–Moriya interaction originating from strong spin–orbit coupling of Yb 4f is a key ingredient to explain magnetic excitations of the molecular magnet states. The Dzyaloshinsky–Moriya interaction allows a non-adiabatic quantum transition between avoided crossing energy levels, and also results in unexpected magnetic behaviours in conventional molecular magnets., Molecular magnets may provide fundamental building blocks for future spintronic and quantum information technologies. Here, the authors demonstrate how the Yb4 tetrahedral components of inorganic materials Ba3Yb2Zn5O11 behave as isolated molecular magnets.

This study aimed to enhance the in vivo antitumor effects of camptothecin (CPT), a strong antitumor agent whose delivery is limited by poor aqueous solubility and instability of the active lactone form. CPT was loaded into sterically stabilized, solid lipid nanoparticles (CPT-SLNs) formulated for intravenous administration. The influence of preinjected blank SLNs on the tumor targeting, pharmacokinetics and antitumor activity of CPT-SLNs was investigated. The CPT-SLNs composed of trilaurin-based lipid matrix containing poloxamer188 and pegylated phospholipid as stabilizers were prepared by hot homogenization method and evaluated for in vitro characteristics and in vivo performance. The CPT-SLNs showed an in vitro long-term sustained release pattern and effectively protected the CPT lactone form from hydrolysis under physiological conditions. Notable tumor targeting and tumor growth inhibition were observed after intravenous administration of CPT-SLNs to mice with subcutaneous transplants of CT26 carcinoma cells. In pharmacokinetic studies in rats, CPT-SLNs markedly elevated plasma CPT level and prolonged blood circulation compared to free CPT. Nonetheless, high uptake of CPT-SLNs by reticuloendothelial system (RES)-rich tissues resulted in limited tumor targeting of CPT-SLNs and plasma CPT levels. Preinjection of blank SLNs before administration of CPT-SLNs to tumor-bearing mice substantially reduced the accumulation of CPT-SLNs in RES organs. This led to significantly enhanced tumor targeting, improved pharmacokinetic parameters and increased antitumor efficacy of CPT-SLNs. These results suggested that the in vivo antitumor effects of CPT-SLNs could be further enhanced by preinjection of blank SLNs. Therefore, CPT-SLNs with preinjected blank SLNs could be a potential approach for stable and effective CPT-based cancer therapy.

Plasminogen activators (PAs), commonly found on the membrane of spermatozoa, convert plasminogen into plasmin and may participate in mammalian fertilization. Correlations have been reported between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and spermatozoa function, although the relationship between PA activity and ROS is unknown. We investigated the effects of ROS on PA activity. We used an in vitro model of free radical generation whereby boar spermatozoa were preincubated in xanthine and xanthine oxidase (X-XO) and PA activity was then measured. The acrosome reaction of boar spermatozoa was significantly promoted by 100 mU/mL plasmin (P0.01), similar to levels achieved when stimulated with the positive calcium (2 mM) control. The addition of plasminogen to the fertilization medium significantly promoted both spermatozoa binding (157.5+/-14.0 spermatozoa/oocyte) and the percentage of oocytes with a male pronucleus (74.5+/-6.4%) compared with control (98.4+/-21.8 spermatozoa/oocyte and 51.4+/-5.3%, respectively; P0.05). The acrosome reactions of spermatozoa were significantly higher when incubated with calcium (2 mM; 60.2+/-2.7%), calcium (2 mM)+EDTA (6 mM; 29.4+/-4.2%), sodium nitroprusside (0.1 microM; 38.0+/-4.2%), H(2)O(2) (100 microM; 56.0+/-3.0%), and X-XO (0.5 mM and 0.05 U/mL, respectively; 31.8+/-3.7%) compared with non-capacitation medium as control (19.0+/-2.7%; P0.05). However, when spermatozoa were incubated with only X-XO, PA activity was significantly higher than with other treatments (P0.05). Moreover, the addition of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase to the X-XO system significantly blocked the PA activity of spermatozoa (P0.05). The PA activity of spermatozoa treated with X-XO was significantly reduced by the addition of MEK inhibitor (55.2+/-5.6 ng/mL) and p38 inhibitor (57.4+/-2.7 ng/mL), but not PI3K inhibitor, compared to the control (X-XO; 68.0+/-5.8 ng/mL; P0.05). The induction of PA activity in boar spermatozoa by free radical generation suggests the PA/plasmin system plays a role in mammalian fertilization.

The dynamic nature of the vortex state of MgB 2 single crystals near the peak effect (PE) region, which is very different either from that of conventional low-temperature superconductors or from that of high-temperature cuprate superconductors, is introduced in this article. Relaxation from a disordered, metastable field-cooled (FC) state to an ordered, stable zero-field-cooled (ZFC) state of the MgB 2 single crystals under an applied magnetic field and current is investigated. From an analysis of the noise properties in the ZFC state, a dynamic vortex phase diagram of the MgB 2 is obtained near the PE region. Between the onset and the peak region in the critical current vs. magnetic field diagram, crossovers from a high-noise state to a noise-free state are observed with increasing current. Above the peak, however, an opposite phenomenon, crossovers from a noise-free to a high-noise state, is observed which has not been observed in any other superconductors. The hysteresis in the I – V curves and the two-level random telegraph noise in the time evolution of the voltage response under an constant applied current at the ZFC state are also studied in detail.

The recent dramatic increase of North Korean refugees in South Korea (called saeteomin, new settlers) has attracted the attention of scholars as well as practitioners not only because of their impact on South Korea and its citizens but, more significantly, because of their unique experiences there. They have encountered various hardships in South Korean society, including economic difficulties, maladjustment to schools, and emotional distance or isolation. This article attempts to illuminate and analyze the status of the North Korean refugees and their perceptions and emotions with respect to South Koreans. Key words: North Korean refugees, human rights-East Asia, Korean unification Introduction According to the Ministry of Unification of South Korea, the number of North Korean refugees has reached 9,706 as of 2006. Many of them made arduous treks as long as 6,000 miles from North Korea across China/Mongolia and Southeast Asian countries to get to South Korea. When the 400 North Koreans currently being investigated and educated at the Hanawon1 and the 500 North Koreans under protection of South Korean embassies and consulates in Thailand and Mongolia for their entry into South Korea are added together,2 the current refugee total is more than 10,000. How well have these saeteomin settled down in South Korean society? Are they respected by or living in harmony with South Koreans? Or have they become second-class citizens who form a new minority group in South Korean society? A 2003 survey by the Korea Institute for National Unifica- tion (KINU) shows that 60.5 percent of saeteomin respondents are satisfied with their overall life in South Korea whereas only 6.7 percent of them are not satisfied.3 The 2005 study by the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights (DCNKHR) on saeteomin settlement conditions indicates that the percentage of "satisfied" respondents (28.4 percent) is about four times higher than that of "unsatisfied" respondents (6.6 percent).4 However, it is possible that they measure their satisfaction based on a comparison between their life in South Korea and the hardships they survived in North Korea and the countries they stayed in en route to South Korea.5 This measure of satisfaction does not explain how successfully they have settled into South Korean society nor their integration with South Koreans. In this article, we examine the status of saeteomin in South Korea and their perception of South Koreans. For the purpose of analysis, we employ the three categories of "making money in South Korea," "studying in South Korea," and "interacting with South Koreans." For comparison, we will address South Koreans' perception and attitude regarding saeteomin in their society. Making Money in South Korea Making money in South Korea is very important and urgent for North Korean refugees. Many of them arrived in South Korea with the expectation of economic betterment and a hope for freedom. However, the 2003 KINU survey showed that the largest number of respondents (28.8 percent) indicated that they most needed "economic betterment."6 Also, in the 2005 study of the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, the largest number of respondents (22.7 percent) indicated that "economic difficulties" are the most difficult obstacle in their life in South Korea.7 In the same study, only 5.1 percent considered themselves middle-class (or above) residents. Many identified themselves as middle-low class (9.9 percent), lower class (57.3 percent), or as living in abject poverty (27.5 percent). These data reveal that a sub- stantial number of saeteomin feel relative (though not absolute) deprivation in South Korea.8 Actually, in 2005, the average monthly income per capita for the South Korean population was approximately 1,390,000 won (about $1,482).9 About 77 percent of surveyed saeteomin said their total monthly income, including wages, government subsidies and nongovernment financial aid, was less than 1,000,000 won (about $1,066). …

Adiabatic demagnetization is currently gaining strong interest in searching for alternatives to 3He-based refrigeration techniques for achieving temperatures below 2 K. The main reasons for that are the recent shortage and high price of the rare helium isotope 3He. Here we report the discovery of a large magnetocaloric effect in the intermetallic compound YbPt2Sn, which allows adiabatic demagnetization cooling from 2 K down to 0.2 K. We demonstrate this with a home-made refrigerator. Other materials, for example, paramagnetic salts, are commonly used for the same purpose but none of them is metallic, a severe limitation for low-temperature applications. YbPt2Sn is a good metal with an extremely rare weak magnetic coupling between the Yb atoms, which prevents them from ordering above 0.25 K, leaving enough entropy free for use in adiabatic demagnetization cooling. The large volumetric entropy capacity of YbPt2Sn guarantees also a good cooling power., Magnetocaloric materials are used in adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators to reach extremely low temperature without using Helium. Here, the authors report a large magnetocaloric effect in YbPt2Sn, and show how the properties of this alloy makes it a good magnetocaloric material.

The Korean reform policy in the aftermath of the 1997 economic crisis has been confronted with the problem of distributive justice. In relation to distributive justice in the reform process, this paper addresses the communitarian‐liberal solution of ‘more burden on the better‐off, less burden on the worse‐off,’ which accords with the ‘difference principle’ of Rawls. This solution may be reasonably supported by all sectors of society for two reasons. One reason lies in the fact that the current social stratification in Korea has been largely affected by the economic policies of the past developmental state rather than individual choices, and that each individual sector, especially the advantaged group, has a weak legitimate claim over its social position. Thus, it seems fair to share the social burden in the extensive reform process according to the principle of capability. The other reason is based on the principle of minimizing social cost accruing from social economic conflict Indeed, this solution refl...

We present the structural, magnetic, thermodynamic, and transport properties of the two new compounds YbPt$_2$Sn and YbPt$_2$In. X-ray powder diffraction shows that they crystallize in different structure types, the hexagonal ZrPt$_2$Al and the cubic Heusler type, respectively. Despite quite different lattice types, both compounds present very similar magnetic properties: a stable trivalent Yb$^{3+}$, no evidence for a sizeable Kondo interaction, and very weak exchange interactions with a strength below 1K as deduced from specific heat $C(T)$. Broad anomalies in $C(T)$ suggest short range magnetic ordering at about 250mK and 180mK for YbPt$_2$Sn and YbPt$_2$In, respectively. The weak exchange and the low ordering temperature result in a large magnetocaloric effect as deduced from the magnetic field dependence of $C(T)$, making these compounds interesting candidates for magnetic cooling. In addition we found in YbPt$_2$In evidences for a charge density wave transition at about 290K. The occurrence of such transitions within several RET$_2$X compound series (RE = rare earth, T = noble metal, X = In, Sn) is analyzed., Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures

Public reason is an important concept in Rawls’ political liberalism. As Rawls puts it, ‘it is the reason of the public and its subject is the public good concerning questions of fundamental political justice, which deals with constitutional essentials and matters of basic justice.’ He further explains that ‘the content of public reason is given by a family of political conceptions of justice’ and that ‘a citizen can engage in public reason when he or she deliberates within a framework of what he or she sincerely regards as the most reasonable political conception of justice.’ Rawls’ specification of public reason assumes that a political conception of justice is already given. He does not attempt to explain the role of public reason in the process of constructing a political conception of justice. Rawls is unclear on the distinction between the two roles of public reason, theoretical construction and practical interpretation. In my paper I shall argue that there should be two stages of public reason, theoretical construction and practical interpretation of a political conception of justice. In the theoretical stage, public reason is to construct a political conception of justice, with the help of two moral powers, the capacity for a conception of the good and the capacity for a sense of justice, within the condition of original position as the device of public representation. Through this stage a political conception of justice appears. And then in the practical stage, public reason gets its content from the political conception of justice that we obtained in the theoretical process. In this understanding, public reason is primarily independent from a political conception of justice and becomes the most fundamental capability for constructing a political conception of justice. Thus a political conception of justice is always theoretically challenged by public reason through cultivating new understanding and interpretation, that opens to reconstruction process, even if it has reached an overlapping consensus from the citizens divided by comprehensive doctrines as the source of nonpublic reasons in civil society.

To develop a solid dosage form of dutasteride for improving its oral bioavailability, a novel dry elixir (DE) system was fabricated. DEs incorporating dextrin and/or xanthan gum were prepared using spray-drying and evaluated by morphology, ethanol content, crystallinity, dissolution and oral bioavailability. DEs were spherical with a smooth surface and had an average particle size of 20-25 μm. The ethanol content could be easily varied by controlling the spray-drying temperature. The dissolution profiles of dutasteride from each DE proved to be much faster than that of dutasteride powder due to the amorphous state and a high amount of incorporated ethanol. In particular, the pharmacokinetic profiles of dutasteride were significantly altered depending on the proportions of dextrin and xanthan gum. Blood concentrations of dutasteride from DE formulations were similar to those of market products and much greater than those of native dutasteride. Interestingly, the dissolution and pharmacokinetic profiles were easily controlled by changing the ratio of dextrin to xanthan gum. The data suggests that a DE using dextrin and/or xanthan gum could provide an applicable solid dosage form to improve the dissolution and bio-availability of dutasteride as well as to modulate its pharmacokinetics.

Dry emulsion containing curcumin (DE-CUR) was prepared for oral delivery of poorly water-soluble curcumin, and its oral bioavailability and antiasthmatic efficacy was evaluated. After comparison of the solubility of curcumin in various oils, Plurol® Oleique CC497 was selected to be the oil phase due to its higher solubility of CUR than other oils. A dry emulsion prepared by spray-drying of a homogenized oil-in-water emulsion was well-reconstituted in water, fabricating similar particle distribution and in vitro release to that of a dispersed homogeneous emulsion before spraying. The release of DE-CUR was much higher than that of curcumin (85.3 vs. 1.7% release at 60 min). Consequently, DE-CUR resulted in 12.0- and 7.1-fold higher Cmax and AUC0-24h than curcumin. In a murine asthma model, DE-CUR effectively suppressed airway hyperresponsiveness and levels of T-helper cytokines such as interleukin-4, inteleukin-5, and interleukin-13. These findings demonstrate that the DE-CUR shows a potential for the development of functional foods or medicines including CUR.

The time evolution of the voltage response ( V ( t )) of the zero-field-cooled (ZFC) vortex matter for MgB 2 single crystals while applying a constant current application was recorded. Near the peak effect (PE) region, we observed a specific pattern of the V ( t ), that of a random telegraph signal for which the voltage mainly remained at two different levels. The origin of this random telegraph signal is closely related to the motional ordering of vortices resulting from the competition between the pinning and the Lorentz forces.

We report the pressure response of charge-density-wave (CDW) and ferromagnetic (FM) phases of the rare-earth intermetallic SmNiC${}_{2}$ up to 5.5 GPa. The CDW transition temperature (${T}_{\text{CDW}}$), which is reflected as a sharp inflection in the electrical resistivity, is almost independent of pressure up to 2.18 GPa but is strongly enhanced at higher pressures, increasing from 155.7 K at 2.2 GPa to 279.3 K at 5.5 GPa. Commensurate with the sharp increase in ${T}_{\text{CDW}}$, the first-order FM phase transition, which decreases with applied pressure, bifurcates into the upper (${T}_{M1}$) and lower (${T}_{c}$) phase transitions and the lower transition changes its nature to second order above 2.18 GPa. Enhancement both in the residual resistivity and the Fermi-liquid ${T}^{2}$ coefficient $A$ near 3.8 GPa suggests abundant magnetic quantum fluctuations that arise from the possible presence of a FM quantum critical point.

A new methodological approach employing mechanical work (MW) determination and relative portion of its elemental analysis was applied to investigate the biomechanical causes of golf-related lumbar spine injuries. Kinematic and kinetic parameters at the lumbar and lower limb joints were measured during downswing in 18 golfers. The MW at the lumbar joint (LJ) was smaller than at the right hip but larger than the MWs at other joints. The contribution of joint angular velocity (JAV) to MW was much greater than that of net muscle moment (NMM) at the LJ, whereas the contribution of NMM to MW was greater rather than or similar to that of JAV at other joints. Thus, the contribution of JAV to MW is likely more critical in terms of the probability of golf-related injury than that of NMM. The MW-based golf-related injury index (MWGII), proposed as the ratio of the contribution of JAV to MW to that of NMM, at the LJ (1.55) was significantly greater than those at other joints ( < 1.05). This generally corresponds to the most frequent occurrence of golf-related injuries around the lumbar spine. Therefore, both MW and MWGII should be considered when investigating the biomechanical causes of lumbar spine injuries.

To enhance the oral absorption of photosensitive amlodipine free base, which exhibits a slow dissolution rate and low permeability characteristics, an amorphous solid dispersion system was formulated and characterized.The solid dispersion was prepared by dispersing the amlodipine free base in excess dextrin (1:10 by weight) using a spray-drying technique in the presence of a minimum amount (0.9% w/w) of SLS as an absorption enhancer. The dextrin-based solid dispersion of amlodipine (Amlo-SD) was evaluated in term of formulation, characterization and in vivo absorption study, as well as the spray-drying process was also optimized.The Amlo-SD particles were spherical with a smooth surface and an average particle size of 12.9 μm. Amlodipine was dispersed in an amorphous state and its content remained uniform in the Amlo-SD. The physicochemical stability of the Amlo-SD was maintained at room temperature for 6 months and the photostability was considerably improved. The dissolution of the Amlo-SD was much faster than that of amlodipine at pH 1.2 and 6.8. Amlo-SD produced significantly higher plasma concentrations of amlodipine in rats than amlodipine alone. Amlo-SD with and without SLS provided 2.8- and 2.0-fold increase in AUC, respectively: the difference seems to be attributed to a permeability enhancement effect by SLS.The Amlo-SD with SLS system is a potential formulation option for amlodipine.

The $f$-electron compound CeAuSb${}_{2}$, which crystallizes in the ZrCuSi${}_{2}$-type tetragonal structure, orders antiferromagnetically between 5 and 6.8 K, where the antiferromagnetic transition temperature ${T}_{N}$ depends on the occupancy of the Au site. Here we report the electrical resistivity and heat capacity of a high-quality crystal CeAuSb${}_{2}$ with ${T}_{N}$ of 6.8 K, the highest for this compound. The magnetic transition temperature is initially suppressed with pressure, but is intercepted by a new magnetic state above 2.1 GPa. The new phase shows a dome shape with pressure and coexists with another phase at pressures higher than 4.7 GPa. The electrical resistivity shows a ${T}^{2}$ Fermi-liquid behavior in the complex magnetic state, and the residual resistivity and the ${T}^{2}$ resistivity coefficient increases with pressure, suggesting the possibility of a magnetic quantum critical point at a higher pressure.

We report specific heat capacity measurements on a LiFeAs single crystal at temperatures down to 400 mK and magnetic fields up to 9 T. A small specific heat jump at ${T}_{c}$ and finite residual density of states at $T=0$ K in the superconducting (SC) state indicate that there are strong unitary scatterers that lead to states within the SC gap. A sublinear magnetic field dependence of the Sommerfeld coefficient $\ensuremath{\gamma}(H)$ at $T=0$ K is equally well fitted by both a nodal d-wave gap as well as a sign changing multiband ${s}_{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$-wave gap. When impurity effects are taken into account, however, the linear temperature dependence of the electronic specific heat ${C}_{\text{el}}/T$ at low temperatures argues against a nodal d-wave superconducting gap. We conclude that the SC state of LiFeAs is most compatible with the multiband ${s}_{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$-wave SC state with the gap values ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\text{small}}=0.46{\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\text{large}}$.

We present low-temperature specific heat of the electron-doped Ba(Fe$_{0.9}$Co$_{0.1}$)$_{2}$As$_{2}$, which does not show any indication of an upturn down to 400 mK, the lowest measuring temperature. The lack of a Schottky-like feature at low temperatures or in magnetic fields up to 9 Tesla enables us to identify enhanced low-temperature quasiparticle excitations and to study anisotropy in the linear term of the specific heat. Our results can not be explained by a single or multiple isotropic superconducting gap, but are consistent with multi-gap superconductivity with nodes on at least one Fermi surface sheet., 5 pages 4 figures

The magnetic penetration depth $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ has been measured in ${\text{MgCNi}}_{3}$ single crystals using both a high-precision tunnel diode oscillator (TDO) technique and Hall probe magnetization (HPM). In striking contrast to previous measurements in powders, $\ensuremath{\delta}\ensuremath{\lambda}(\text{T})$ deduced from TDO measurements increases exponentially at low temperature, clearly showing that the superconducting gap is fully open over the whole Fermi surface. An absolute value at zero temperature $\ensuremath{\lambda}(0)=230\text{ }\text{nm}$ is found from the lower critical field measured by HPM. We also discuss the observed difference of the superfluid density deduced from both techniques. A possible explanation could be due to a systematic decrease in the critical temperature at the sample surface.

In an isotropic vortex system of MgCNi_{3} single crystal, we first observed the collapse of the peak effect (PE), which is a sudden increase in the critical current (I_{c}) near the end of superconductivity. By moving magnetic vortices with dc and ac driving currents, we investigated the vortex dynamics related to the PE. For the dc driving, a sharp peak in I_{c} was observed. As the driving frequency increases, the PE was collapsed and observable flux creep was developed in contrast to the result obtained from the well-studied anisotropic system of NbSe_{2}. Because the vortex matter in our experimental situation is isotropic and has large correlation volume without severe deformation by pinning, the mobility of the vortex matter is intrinsically high. From the detailed observation, we are convinced that the PE is definitely a dynamic phenomenon.

We report on measurements of the in-plane magnetic penetration depth ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{ab}$ in the infinite-layer electron-doped high-temperature cuprate superconductor ${\text{Sr}}_{0.9}{\text{La}}_{0.1}{\text{CuO}}_{2}$ by means of muon-spin rotation. The observed temperature and magnetic field dependences of ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{ab}$ are consistent with the presence of a substantial $s$-wave component in the superconducting order parameter, in good agreement with the results of tunneling, specific heat, and small-angle neutron scattering experiments.