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Despite the various therapeutic benefits and high tolerance of orally administered silybin, poor water-solubility can be the main restrictive physicochemical feature, which results in low oral bioavailability in the absorption. A milk thistle nanocrystal formulation (HM40) was prepared using a modified wet-milling method. Comprehensive characterization was performed to determine the physical morphology, crystallinity, and physicochemical properties. The long-term stability was evaluated over 24 months. In vitro silybin release was assessed at pH 1.2 for 2 h, followed by pH 6.8 for 4 h. Finally, in vivo pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in rats and healthy human volunteers. HM40 exhibited a nanocrystal structure maintaining crystallinity and enhanced the solubility and dissolution of silybin compared to that of the raw material. The stability over 24 months revealed consistent surface morphology, particle size, silybin content, and solubility. In vitro release profiles indicated a significant increase in the silybin release from HM40. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies demonstrated that HM40 showed 2.61- and 1.51-fold higher oral bioavailability in rats and humans, respectively, than that of the reference capsule. HM40 formulation presents a stable and promising approach for the oral delivery of poorly water-soluble silybin, with the potential for use in pharmaceutical formulations containing milk thistle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been extensive research and development in the field of smart cars, including technologies related to autonomous driving. Various industries are actively working towards creating efficient and safe self-driving cars. Sensor technologies are emerging to prevent traffic accidents and support safe driving in complex environments where human perception may be limited. One of the representative technologies being researched is the use of Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar. Automobile manufacturers are improving driving safety by equipping cars with Blind Spot Detection (BSD) radar systems that use FMCW technology. As the complexity of driving environments continues to grow, ongoing research is aimed at enhancing the accuracy and reliability of BSD radar technology for detecting blind spots in vehicles. This paper presents the signal processing and tracking algorithms that are the core technologies of the BSD radar, and the design for a BSD radar system. The designed radar system was installed on a vehicle to verify its performance in real-world road environments. The ultimate objective of this research is to design a BSD radar system with high accuracy and reliability in BSD detection using AI technology. In pursuit of this goal, this paper presents the hardware design of the BSD radar system, including antenna and modem designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine whether investor sentiment affects price discrepancies between preferred and common stocks, based on a sample of Korean firms that issue preferred stocks. While most research has focused on corporate finance features such as voting rights, we examine price discrepancies as a behavioral finance feature from a new perspective. Based on the investor sentiment index, as investor sentiment increases, price discrepancies between preferred and common stocks widen in the KOSPI market. These findings confirm that investor sentiment—not merely voting premiums, cash flow rights, and liquidity—is a significant factor in explaining price discrepancies between preferred and common stocks in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]