Simulated patient methodology as a“gold standard”in community pharmacy practice:Response to criticism

The simulated patient methodology(SPM)is considered the“gold standard”as covert participatory observation.SPM is attracting increasing interest for the investigation of community pharmacy practice;however,there is criticism that SPM can only show a small picture of everyday pharmacy practice and therefore has limited external validity.On the one hand,a certain design and application of the SPM goes hand in hand with an increase in external validity.Even if,on the other hand,this occurs at the expense of internal validity due to the trade-off situation,the justified criticism of the SPM for investigating community pharmacy practice can be countered.

Exploring the Epistemology and Methodology of Social Sciences:From Positivism to Complexity

The aim of the paper is to explore the main paradigms and methodology of social research,framing them in historical path and highlighting the epistemological foundations.It moves from reflection on research methodology as a‘discourse of method’to focus on the paradigmatic dimension of the social sciences,according to Kuhn’s meaning for which paradigm indicates a shared and recognized theoretical perspective within the scientific community.The paper highlights the role of paradigms in shaping theoretical and empirical inquiry.It further examines the positivist and neo-positivist paradigms,which emphasize observation and empirical verifiability,quantification,formulation of laws,and cause-and-effect relationships,arguing for the uniqueness of the scientific method.Lazarsfeld brings to the social sciences the language‘of variables’,borrowed from mathematics and statistics.The distinction introduced by Windelband between‘nomothetic’and‘idiographic’sciences is followed by Weber’s elaboration of the concept of‘Verstehen’,which shifts the focus to the understanding of social reality through the meanings that individuals attribute to their actions.The interpretive paradigm paves the way for qualitative research methods.Finally,the paper delves into the complexity paradigm,which challenges the reductionist and deterministic models of classical science and outlines an epistemological shift in the key notions of science,introducing concepts such as‘emergence’,‘auto-eco-organization’and‘recursive processes’.The complexity of social reality calls for a rethinking of sociological methods,favoring multidimensional and event-based analysis over statistical regularities,privileging observation,intervention and the‘in vivo method’on the level of empirical research.Complexity pushes sociology to redefine itself along with its object traditionally understood as‘society’.

Groundwater impact of open cut coal mine and an assessment methodology:A case study in NSW

Large scale open cut coal mining operations have significant impacts to groundwater in surrounding areas in both active and post-mining phases. The prediction of water inflows into a surface mine excavation is one of the many components involved in mine design phase. Groundwater performance also reacts to mining activities from the operational, economic and safety implications perspective. Under NSW planning legislation, as part of the comprehensive risk assessment, a groundwater impact assessment has to be conducted for a coal project to predict and mitigate the impacts in consideration of the government requirements. In this paper, the groundwater assessment modelling of mine pits was discussed in predicting of groundwater inflows and reviewing analytical and numerical approaches. A methodology of groundwater impact assessment for an open cut mine in NSW with a three-dimensional groundwater flow model Modflow Surfact demonstrated its functions in simulating the project's impacts on the groundwater regime. The key findings with mitigations are discussed and recommended in the paper to reduce impacts on groundwater and fulfil regulation requirements in NSW.

Optimisation of beef tenderisation treated with bromelain using response surface methodology (RSM)

The purpose of this study is to determine the optimum condition for the tenderization of beef by bromelain using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Initially, bromelain powder was produced from pineapple crown of variety N36. Production of the bromelain powder involves several process steps such as extraction, purification, desalting and freeze drying. The cube size beef of round part was treated with bromelain at different pHs of beef, immersion temperatures, bromelain solution concentrations, and immersion times according to the experimental design which was recommended by RSM of MINITAB software version 15. Beef tenderness was then measured by Texture Analyser. The MINITAB software Version 15 was used to optimise the tenderisation of beef by bromelain. The determination coefficient R2 was 99.97% meaning that the experimental data were acceptable. It was found that beef could be optimize tenderised 89.907% at the optimum condition at pH of beef of 5.4, immersion temperature of60℃, bromelain solution concentration of 0.1682% and immersion time of 10 minutes. The verification value of beef ten-derisation at the feasible optimum condition which was determined by experiment was 89.571%. Since the difference between the veri- fication and predicted values was less than 5%, therefore, the optimum condition for the tenderisation of beef predicted by MINITAB software Version 15 could be accepted.

Method for the determination of polonium-210 in tea samples using response surface methodology(RSM)

The method based on solvent parameters(mass,cycle of acidification, and autodeposition time), combined with response surface methodology(RSM) modeling and optimization, has been developed for maximizing ^(210)Po activity in tea samples, as observed by an alpha spectrometer. RSM based on 3-factor and 5-level composite center design was used to obtain the optimal combination of solvent conditions. As solvent parameters for ^(210)Po activity, different masses(0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2 g), different cycles of acidification(2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 times), and different autodeposition times(2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 h) were studied. The 3D response surface plot and the contour plot derived from the mathematical models were used to determine the optimal conditions. According to the obtained results, the experimental value of ^(210)Po activity was in good agreement(R^2=0.96) with the value predicted by the model. We found a favorable effect of mass on the ^(210)Po activity(p\0.05).

Optimization of Ultrasonic Extraction Conditions of Polyphenols from the Needles of Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Ultrasonic extraction conditions of polyphenols from the needles of black pine(Pinus thunbergii) were optimized by single factors analysis and Box-Behnken experiment design. The results showed that both of ethanol concentration and ultrasonic time had a significant effect on polyphenol extraction, and there was significant interaction between any two variables in the three parameters of ethanol concentration, ultrasonic temperature and ultrasonic time. The optimal parameters for polyphenol extraction were the ethanol concentration of 52.67%, ultrasonic temperature at 49.21 ℃and ultrasonic time of 30.76 min. Under these conditions, the actual content of polyphenols was close to the predicted value. Therefore, the process can be used to extract polyphenols from black pine needles.

Optimization of methane conversion to liquid fuels over W-Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts by response surface methodology

The conversion of methane to liquid fuels is still in the development process. The modified HZSM-5 by loading with Tungsten （W） enhanced its heat resistant performance, and the high reaction temperature （800℃） did not lead to the loss of W component by sublimation. The loading of ZSM-5 with Tungsten and Copper （Cu） resulted in an increment in the methane conversion, CO2, and C5＋ selectivities. The high methane conversion and C5＋ selectivity, and low H2O selectivity are obtained by using W/3.0Cu/ZSM-5. The optimization of methane conversion over 3.0 W/3.0Cu/ZSM-5 under different temperature and oxygen concentration using response surface methodology （RSM） are studied. The optimum point for methane conversion is 19% when temperature is 753 ℃, and oxygen concentration is 12%. The highest C5＋ selectivity is 27% when temperature is 751 ℃. and oxwen concentration is 11%.

Optimization of medium components using response surface methodology (RSM) for mycelium biomass and exopolysaccharide production by <i>Lentinus squarrosulus</i>

The interaction between sucrose, yeast extract and initial pH was investigated to optimize critical medium components for mycelium biomass and production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) of Lentinus squarrosulus using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). A central composite design (CCD) was applied and a polynomial regression model with quadratic term was used to analyse the experimental data using analysis of variance (ANOVA). ANOVA analysis showed that the model was very significant (p Lentinus squarrosulus are as follows: sucrose concentration 114.61 g/L, yeast extract 1.62 g/L and initial pH of 5.81;sucrose concentration 115.8 g/L, yeast extract of 3.39 g/L and initial pH of 6.44 respectively.

Application of response surface methodology(RSM) for optimization of leaching parameters for ash reduction from low-grade coal

Coal is the world＇s most abundant energy source because of its abundance and relatively low cost. Due to the scarcity in the supply of high-grade coal, it is necessary to use low-.grade coal for fulfilling energy demands of modern civilization. However, due to ItS high ash and moisture content, low-grade coal exerts the substantial impact on their consumption like pyrolysis, liquefaction, gasification and combus- tion process. The present research aimed to develop the efficient technique for the production of clean coal by optimizing the operating parameters with the help of response surface methodology. The effect of three independent variables such as hydrofluoric acid （HF） concentration （10-20% by vo!ume ）,. temper- ature （60-100 ~C）, and time （90-180 min）, for ash reduction from the low-grade coal was Investigated.. A quadratic model was proposed to correlate the independent variables for maximum ash reduction at the optimum process condition by using central composite design （CC.D）method. The study reveals that HF concentration was the most effective parameter for ash reduction in comparison with time and temper- ature. It may be due to the higher F-statistics value for HF concentration, which effects to large extent of ash reduction. The characterization of coal was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR） analysis and Field-emission scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray （FESEM- EDX） analysis for confirmation of the ash reduction.

Production of octyl levulinate biolubricant over modified H-ZSM-5:Optimization by response surface methodology

The present study highlighted the use of modified H-ZSM-5 （Meso-HZ-5） as heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of octyl levulinate biolubricant by catalytic esterification of biomass derived renewable levulinic acid （LA） with n-octanol. The process variables such as catalyst loading （X1）, n-octanol to LA molar ratio （X2） and reaction temperature （X3） were optimized through response surface methodology （RSM）, using Box-Behnken model. Analysis of variance was performed to determine the adequacy and significance of the quadratic model. The yield of octyl levulinate was obtained to be 99% at optimum process parameters. The developed quadratic model was found to be adequate and statistically accurate with correlation value （R2） of 0.9971 to predict the yield of octyl levulinate biolubricant. The study was also extended on the validation of theoretical and experimental data, including catalyst reusability.

Application of Response Surface Methodology for Optimization of Fluoride Removal Mechanism by Newely Developed Biomaterial

The adsorption capacities of new biomaterials derived from lemon leaf (Citrus sp.) toward fluoride ions have been explored by varying different physicochemical parameters such as pH, initial concentration, adsorbent dose, contact time, stirring rate and temperature. The entire study was done through batch process. Maximum fluoride adsorption of 96.9% - 98.8% was achieved with an initial concentration of 10 mg/L. Langmuir isotherm model well expressed fluoride ad- sorption onto LLD-1, LLD-2 and LLD-3. According to correlation coefficient, the fluoride adsorption onto these 3 ad- sorbents was correlated well with pseudo-second-order kinetic model. From thermodynamic study, the spontaneous nature and feasibility of the adsorption process with negative enthalpy (&#916H0) value also supported the exothermic nature were shown. The rate of fluoride adsorption was mathematically described as a function of experimental parameters and was modeled through Box-Behnken (Response surface methodology). The results showed that the responses of fluoride adsorption were significantly affected by the quadratic term of pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature and the statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA which indicated good correlation of experimental parameters.

Reliability Analysis of Hydraulic Transmission Oil Supply System of Power-Shift Steering Transmission with GO Methodology

GO methodology is a success-oriented method for system reliability analysis. There are components with multi-fault modes in repairable systems. It is a problem to use the existing GO method to make reliability analysis of such repairable systems. A new GO method for reliability analysis of such repairable systems with multifault modes was presented. Firstly, calculation equations of reliability parameters of operators which were used to describe components with multi-fault modes in reparable systems were derived based on Markov process theory. Then, this new GO method was applied in reliability analysis of a hydraulic transmission oil supply system( HTOSS) of a power-shift steering transmission at low and high speeds. Finally,Compared with fault tree analysis( FTA) and Monte Carlo simulation,the results show that this new GO method is correct and suitable for reliability analysis of repairable system with multi-fault modes.

A systematic scoping review of study methodology for randomized controlled trials investigating probiotics in athletic and physically active populations

Background:The purported ergogenic and health effects of probiotics have been a topic of great intrigue among researchers,practitioners,and the lay public alike.There has also been an increased research focus within the realm of sports science and exercise medicine on the athletic gut microbiota.However,compared to other ergogenic aids and dietary supplements,probiotics present unique study challenges.The objectives of this systematic scoping review were to identify and characterize study methodologies of randomized controlled trials investigating supplementation with probiotics in athletes and physically active individuals.Methods:Four databases(MEDLINE,CINAHL,Cochrane CENTRAL,and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)were searched for randomized controlled studies involving healthy athletes or physically active individuals.An intervention with probiotics and inclusion of a control and/or placebo group were essential.Only peer-reviewed articles in English were considered,and there were no date restrictions.Results were extracted and presented in tabular form to detail study protocols,characteristics,and outcomes.Bias in randomized controlled trials was determined with the RoB 2.0 tool.Results:A total of 45 studies were included in the review,with 35 using a parallel group design and 10 using a cross-over design.Approximately half the studies used a single probiotic and the other half a multi-strain preparation.The probiotic dose ranged from 2×10^(8)to 1×10^(11)colony forming units daily,and the length of intervention was between 7 and 150 days.Fewer than half the studies directly assessed gastrointestinal symptoms,gut permeability,or the gut microbiota.The sex ratio of participants was heavily weighted toward males,and only 3 studies exclusively investigated females.Low-level adverse events were reported in only 2 studies,although the methodology of reporting varied widely.The risk of bias was generally low,although details on randomization were lacking in some studies.Conclusion:There is a substantial body of research on the effects of prob iotic supplementation in healthy athletes and physically active individuals.Considerable heterogeneity in probiotic selection and dosage as well as outcome measures has made clinical and mechanistic interpretation challenging for both health care practitioners and researchers.Attention to issues of randomization of participants,treatments and interventions,selection of outcomes,demographics,and reporting of adverse events will facilitate more trustworthy interpretation of probiotic study results and inform evidence-based guidelines.

Enhancing wood efficiency through comprehensive wood flow analysis:Methodology and strategic insights

Wood,an essential natural resource in human civilization,remains widely used despite advances in technology and material substitution.The surge in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental concerns accentuates the need for optimizing wood utilization.Material flow analysis is a powerful tool for tracking material flows and stocks,aiding resource management and environmental decision-making.However,the full extent of its methodological dimensions,particularly within the context of the wood supply chain,remains relatively unexplored.In this study,we delve into the existing literature on wood flow analysis,discussing its primary objectives,materials involved,temporal and spatial scales,data sources,units,and conversion factors.Additionally,data uncertainty,data reconciliation and crucial assumptions in material flow analysis are highlighted in this paper.Key findings reveal the significance of wood cascading and substitution effects by replacing non-wood materials,where they can reduce greenhouse gas emissions more than the natural carbon sink of forests and wood products.The immediate impact of short-term wood cascading might not be as robust as the substitution effect,with energy substitution showcasing better results than material substitution.However,it's crucial to note that these conclusions could experience significant reversal from a long-term and global perspective.Strategies for improving wood efficiency involve maximizing material use,advancing construction technologies,extending product lifespans,promoting cascade use,and optimizing energy recovery processes.The study underscores the need for standardized approaches in wood flow analysis and emphasizes the potential of wood efficiency strategies in addressing environmental challenges.

How to use the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results(SEER)data:research design and methodology

In the United States(US),the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results(SEER)program is the only comprehensive source of population-based information that includes stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and patient survival data.This program aims to provide a database about cancer incidence and survival for studies of surveillance and the development of analytical and methodological tools in the cancer field.Currently,the SEER program covers approximately half of the total cancer patients in the US.A growing number of clinical studies have applied the SEER database in various aspects.However,the intrinsic features of the SEER database,such as the huge data volume and complexity of data types,have hindered its application.In this review,we provided a systematic overview of the commonly used methodologies and study designs for retrospective epidemiological research in order to illustrate the application of the SEER database.Therefore,the goal of this review is to assist researchers in the selection of appropriate methods and study designs for enhancing the robustness and reliability of clinical studies by mining the SEER database.

Optimization and Characterization of Cellulose Extraction from Grevillea robusta (Silky Oak) Leaves by Soda-Anthraquinone Pulping Using Response Surface Methodology

Response surface methodology (RSM) using the central composite design (CCD) was applied to examine the impact of soda-anthraquinone pulping conditions on Grevillea robusta fall leaves. The pulping factors studied were: NaOH charge 5% to 20% w/v, pulping time 30 to 180 minutes, and the anthraquinone charge 0.1 to 0.5% w/w based on the oven-dried leaves. The responses evaluated were the pulp yield, cellulose content, and the degree of delignification. Various regression models were used to evaluate the effects of varying the pulping conditions. The optimum conditions attained were;NaOH charge of 14.63%, 0.1% anthraquinone, and a pulping period of 154 minutes, corresponding to 20.68% pulp yield, 80.56% cellulose content, and 70.34% lignin removal. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), was used to determine the most important variables that improve the extraction process of cellulose. The experiment outcomes matched those predicted by the model (Predicted R2 = 0.9980, Adjusted R2 = 0.9994), demonstrating the adequacy of the model used. FTIR analysis confirmed the elimination of the non-cellulosic fiber constituents. The lignin and hemicellulose-related bands (around 1514 cm−1, 1604 cm−1, 1239 cm−1, and 1734 cm−1) decreased with chemical treatment, indicating effective cellulose extraction by the soda-anthraquinone method. Similar results were obtained by XRD, SEM and thermogravimetric analysis of the extracted cellulose. Therefore, Grevillea robusta fall leaves are suitable renewable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly non-wood biomass for cellulose extraction.

Application of dielectric barrier discharge(DBD) plasma packed with glass and ceramic pellets for SO_2 removal at ambient temperature: optimization and modeling using response surface methodology

Air pollution is a major health problem in developing countries and has adverse effects on human health and the environment. Non-thermal plasma is an effective air pollution treatment technology. In this research, the performance of a dielectric barrier discharge(DBD) plasma reactor packed with glass and ceramic pellets was evaluated in the removal of SO_2 as a major air pollutant from air in ambient temperature. The response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effect of three key parameters(concentration of gas, gas flow rate, and voltage) as well as their simultaneous effects and interactions on the SO2 removal process. Reduced cubic models were derived to predict the SO_2 removal efficiency(RE) and energy yield(EY). Analysis of variance results showed that the packed-bed reactors(PBRs) studied were more energy efficient and had a high SO2 RE which was at least four times more than that of the non-packed reactor. Moreover, the results showed that the performance of ceramic pellets was better than that of glass pellets in PBRs. This may be due to the porous surface of ceramic pellets which allows the formation of microdischarges in the fine cavities of a porous surface when placed in a plasma discharge zone. The maximum SO_2 RE and EY were obtained at 94% and 0.81 g kWh^(-1),respectively under the optimal conditions of a concentration of gas of 750 ppm, a gas flow rate of 2lmin^(-1), and a voltage of 18 kV, which were achieved by the DBD plasma packed with ceramic pellets. Finally, the results of the model's predictions and the experiments showed good agreement.

Research on the development methodology for clinical practice guidelines for organic integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine

Integrated traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)and Western medicine(WM)is a new medical science grounded in the knowledge bases of both TCM and WM,which then forms a unique modern medical system in China.Integrated TCM and WM has a long history in China,and has made important achievements in the process of clinical diagnosis and treatment.However,the methodological defects in currently published clinical practice guidelines(CPGs)limit its development.The organic integration of TCM and WM is a deeper integration of TCM and WM.To realize the progression of"integration"to"organic integration",a targeted and standardized guideline development methodology is needed.Therefore,the purpose of this study is to establish a standardized development procedure for clinical practice guidelines for the organic integration of TCM and WM to promote the systematic integration of TCM and WM research results into clinical practice guidelines in order to achieve optimal results as the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

The Influence of Tartaric Acid in the Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Using Response Surface Methodology

Silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)synthesized using tartaric acid as a capping agent have a great impact on the reaction kinetics and contribute significantly to the stability of AgNPs.The protective layer formed by tartaric acid is an important factor that protects the silver surface and reduces potential cytotoxicity problems.These attributes are critical for assessing the compatibility of AgNPs with biological systems and making them suitable for drug delivery applications.The aim of this research is to conduct a comprehensive study of the effect of tartaric acid concentration,sonication time and temperature on the formation of silver nanoparticles.Using Response Surface Methodology(RSM)with Face-Centered Central Composite Design(FCCD),the optimization process identifies the most favorable synthesis conditions.UV-Vis spectrum regression analysis shows that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid are more stable than AgNPs without tartaric acid.This highlights the increased stability that tartaric acid provides in AgNP ssssynthesis.Particle size distribution analysis showed a multimodal distribution for AgNPs with tartaric acid and showed the smallest size peak with an average size of 20.53 nm.The second peak with increasing intensity shows a dominant average size of 108.8 nm accompanied by one standard deviation of 4.225 nm and a zeta potential of−11.08 mV.In contrast,AgNPs synthesized with polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP)showed a unimodal particle distribution with an average particle size of 81.62 nm and a zeta potential of−2.96 mV.The more negative zeta potential of AgNP-tartaric acid indicates its increased stability.Evaluation of antibacterial activity showed that AgNPs stabilized with tartaric acid showed better performance against E.coli and B.subtilis bacteria compared with AgNPs-PVP.In summary,this study highlights the potential of tartaric acid in AgNP synthesis and suggests an avenue for the development of stable AgNPs with versatile applications.

Optimization on Ultrasonic Extraction Method of Total Flavonoids for Liriodendron chinense Sarg.×L.tulipifera L. by Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

With the leaves,bark and roots of Liriodendron chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.as experiment materials,the ultrasonic-assisted extraction conditions of total flavonoids were optimized by response surface Box-Behnken test design.Ultrasonic time and liquid-to-solid ratio had significant effects on the extraction amount of flavonoids from the leaves of L.chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.;ultrasonic temperature and liquid-to-solid ratio had an interaction on the extraction amount of flavonoids;and the optimum ultrasonic time,temperature and liquid-to-solid ratio for the extraction of flavonoids from leaves of L.chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.were 19.82 min,28.60 ℃ and 9.48 ml/g,respectively.Ultrasonic time,temperature and liquid-to-solid ratio had significant effects on the extraction amount of flavonoids from L.chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.;there was a significant interaction between any two of the factors,which had a significant effect on the extraction of flavonoids;and the optimum extraction parameters for flavonoids in the bark were the ultrasonic time of 33.66 min,the ultrasonic temperature at 32.85 ℃ and the liquid-to-solid ratio of 11.39 ml/g.Ultrasonic time and liquid-to-solid ratio had significant effects on the extraction of flavonoids from roots;there was a significant interaction between ultrasonic time and liquid-to-solid ratio and between ultrasonic temperature and liquid-to-solid ratio;and the optimum extraction parameters for flavonoids from the roots of L.chinense Sarg.× L.tulipifera L.were the ultrasonic time of 32.38 min,the ultrasonic temperature at 25.0 ℃ and the liquid-to-solid ratio of 8.00 ml/g.The results of the three models were stable.The models are feasible and have good application value.