bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pricing and utilisation of proton pump inhibitors in South Australian public hospitals and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
Authors: Thai Loc P. , Vitry Agnes I. , Moss John R. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) reforms have been effective in reducing the price paid for medicines. South Australian public hospitals purchase medicines through competitive tendering, whereas the PBS purchases via reference pricing. There is currently little known about the price differences and relative utilisation patterns that exist for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) between South Australian public hospitals and the PBS.AimTo compare the prices and relative utilisation patterns of PPIs between South Australian public hospitals and the PBS.MethodA retrospective price and relative utilisation comparison was conducted on five PBS‐listed PPIs. Average weighted prices and total PBS expenditure were calculated under various scenarios derived from prices and/or relative utilisation in South Australian public hospitals.ResultsThe average weighted price of PPIs in South Australian public hospitals was almost 70% cheaper than for the equivalent medicines on the PBS. Savings of $AUD440 million from 2011 to 2012 would have been achieved if the PBS price and relative utilisation of PPIs had been similar to that of South Australian public hospitals. Increased utilisation of cheaper off‐patent PPIs in the South Australian public hospitals had a greater impact on total expenditure than the price differences between the PBS and the South Australian public hospitals in 2012.ConclusionsPrices of PPIs in the PBS are more expensive than those purchased by South Australian public hospitals. Further savings to total PBS expenditure could be achieved by reducing prices further and promoting the use of off‐patent medicines.
Serious adverse drug reactions to zolpidem: does impaired metabolic clearance and concurrent SSRI/SNRI use increase risk?
Authors: Polasek Thomas M. , Perera Vidya , Lucire Yolande 
Published: June 2016

AbstractZolpidem is one of the most commonly used drugs for insomnia but it has been associated with adverse neuropsychiatric effects and complex sleep‐related behaviours. In this report, the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and putative serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to zolpidem are briefly described. Nine ‘hypothesis generating’ cases from a psychiatry practice are presented to suggest that in cytochrome P450 poor metabolisers, inhibitory metabolic drug–drug interactions and pharmacodynamic synergies with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor/serotonin‐noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor antidepressants may increase the risk of serious ADRs to zolpidem.
Evaluation of a clozapine decision support tool in a mental health facility
Authors: Ally Bashir A. S. , Stallman Helen M. 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe prescribing and administration of clozapine as well as monitoring requisites for patients on clozapine therapy is distinctly different from other antipsychotic drugs. This study evaluated a Clozapine Decision Support Tool (CDST) to improve patient outcomes. The CDST was developed, using current clozapine guidelines and published literature. The study was conducted at a long‐stay mental health facility and included all 67 patients who were on clozapine therapy during the study period. The study comprised of a pre‐ and post‐intervention audit of clozapine prescribing, with the introduction of the CDST as the intervention, to assess the level of clinician adherence to the clozapine guidelines. There was an overall improvement in clinician adherence to the clozapine guidelines with statistically significant improvements in monthly physical health monitoring and 6‐monthly electrocardiography. The results of this study suggest that using the CDST may improve clinician adherence to current guidelines and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Effects of long‐term intake of Antarctic krill oils on artery blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Zhou Da‐Yong , Liu Yu‐Xin , Xu Zhi‐Li , Yin Fa‐Wen , Song Liang , Wan Xiu‐Lin , Song Yu‐Kun , Zhu Bei‐Wei 
Published: June 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in research on krill oil (KO) for its health benefits. However, the action of KO in lowering blood pressure (BP) has not been studied yet. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the ability of long‐term KO supplementation to lower systolic BP (SBP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.RESULTSCompared with the blank control (BC) SHRs administered edible soybean oil, the high‐dose (500 mg kg−1 body weight (BW)) KO‐supplemented SHRs in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks following oral administration, the mid‐dose (100 mg kg−1 BW) KO‐supplemented SHRs in the 4th and 5th weeks following oral administration and the low‐dose (20 mg kg−1 BW) KO‐supplemented SHRs in the 5th week following oral administration showed significantly lower SBP (P < 0.05). However, supplementation of KO had no significant effect on the SBP of healthy SD rats. Meanwhile, 5 weeks of KO administration significantly increased the serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) and total NO synthase of SHRs (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONKO has an antihypertensive effect in SHRs that is associated with an NO‐related mechanism. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Comparing surgeon outcomes in endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Smith Timothy L. , Mace Jess C. , Rudmik Luke , Schlosser Rodney J. , Hwang Peter H. , Alt Jeremiah A. , Soler Zachary M. 
Published: June 2016

Objectives/HypothesisThe objective of this investigation was to evaluate endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) outcomes for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) between medical centers to determine if differences in quality‐of‐life outcomes were detectable. In addition, we sought to identify significant, independent cofactors toward the development of an ESS‐specific risk‐adjustment model so that ESS outcomes may be appropriately compared between institutions and healthcare providers.Study DesignProspective, multicenter, observational cohort.MethodsStudy participants electing ESS for CRS were enrolled and randomly selected in equal numbers from three academic clinical practices in North America between April 2011 and May 2015. The magnitude of average 6‐month postoperative improvement in patient‐related outcome measures (PROMs) was compared between enrollment sites using multivariate linear regression modeling.ResultsA total of 228 participants met inclusion criteria and were included for final analyses (n = 76 per site). The prevalence of septal deviation/septoplasty and oral corticosteroid‐dependent conditions was significantly different between enrollment sites (P ≤ 0.004). Each enrollment site generated significant within‐subject improvement across all PROMs after ESS (P < 0.001); however, average unadjusted magnitudes of improvement were significantly different between sites for the primary outcome measure. After controlling for baseline PROMs, septal deviation, steroid‐dependent conditions, and medication use variables, enrollment site was no longer associated with significant outcome differences (P = 0.535).ConclusionComparison of surgeon outcomes of ESS is feasible and must take into account a number of baseline patient characteristics. Further studies will be critical toward developing an ESS‐specific risk‐adjustment model and enabling a robust comparison of surgeon outcomes.Level of Evidence2c. Laryngoscope, 127:14–21, 2017
Near Infrared Dye Conjugated Nanogels for Combined Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapies
Authors: Asadian‐Birjand Mazdak , Bergueiro Julian , Wedepohl Stefanie , Calderón Marcelo 
Published: June 2016

There is a need for new and smart formulations that will help overcome the limitations of organic dyes used in photodynamic (PDT) and photothermal (PTT) therapy and significantly accelerate their clinical translation. Therefore the aim of this work was to create a responsive nanogel scaffold as a smart vehicle for dye administration. We developed a methodology that enables the conjugation of organic dyes to thermoresponsive nanogels and yields biocompatible, nanometer‐sized products with low polydispersity. The potential of the dye‐nanogel conjugate as a photothermal and photodynamic agent has been demonstrated by an in vitro evaluation with a model human carcinoma cell line. Additionally, confocal cell images showed their cellular uptake profile and their potential for bioimaging and intracellular drug delivery. These conjugates are a promising scaffold as a theranostic agents and will enable further applications in combination with controlled drug release.
image
The Enhancement Effect of Mesoporous Graphene on Actuation of Nafion‐Based IPMC
Authors: Zu Lei , Li Yueting , Lian Huiqin , Hu Yanou , Chang Wei , Liu Bingxin , Liu Yang , Ao Xiang , Li Qiang , Cui Xiuguo 
Published: June 2016

A facile method to fabricate ionic polymer‐metal composite (IPMC) actuators is proposed. A blend of mesoporous graphene (MG) and Nafion is used as the ionic matrix, which is sandwiched by two layers of blend of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Nafion as the electrodes. When subjected to an electrical field of 3 V, the IPMC actuator exhibits a blocking force of 10 gf g−1 for 20 s, and the same behavior can be repeatedly played for hundreds of cycles. MG improves the mechanical properties of Nafion‐based IPMC, more importantly, the mesopores in graphene provide additional pathway for the diffusion of cationic clusters and thus enhance the actuation speed. In addition, the surface electrodes of rGO protect the interlamellar liquid from evaporation thus ensure the durability.image
Ser(P)‐1292 LRRK2 in urinary exosomes is elevated in idiopathic Parkinson's disease
Authors: Fraser Kyle B. , Rawlins Ashlee B. , Clark Rachel G. , Alcalay Roy N. , Standaert David G. , Liu Nianjun ,   Parkinson's Disease Biomarker Program Consortium, West Andrew B. 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACTBackgroundMutations in Leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) enhance levels of the autophosphorylated LRRK2 protein and are the most common known cause of inherited Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 has been further implicated in susceptibility to idiopathic PD in genetic association studies.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to compare autophosphorylated Ser(P)‐1292 LRRK2 levels from biobanked urine samples with clinical data in PD patients and controls.MethodsSer(P)‐1292 LRRK2 levels were measured from urine exosome fractions from 79 PD patients and 79 neurologically healthy controls enrolled in the Parkinson Disease Biomarker Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.ResultsSer(P)‐1292 LRRK2 levels were higher in men than women (P < .0001) and elevated in PD patients when compared with controls (P = .0014). Ser(P)‐1292 LRRK2 levels were higher in PD cases with worse cognition and correlated with poor performance in MoCA (r = −0.2679 [−0.4628 to −0.0482]), MDS‐UPDRS subscales 1 and 2 (r = 0.2239 [0.0014‐0.4252], 0.3404 [0.1276‐0.5233], respectively), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (r = 0.3215 [0.1066‐0.5077]), and Modified Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scales (r = −0.4455 [−0.6078 to −0.2475]). Ser(P)‐1292 LRRK2 levels predicted those with worse cognitive impairment in PD patients with some success (c = 0.73).ConclusionsUrinary exosome Ser(P)‐1292 LRRK2 levels are elevated in idiopathic PD and correlated with the severity of cognitive impairment and difficultly in accomplishing activities of daily living. These results implicate biochemical changes in LRRK2 in idiopathic PD. © 2016 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
“The persistence of memory”—Hermaphroditism in nematodes
Authors: Ellis Ronald E 
Published: June 2016

SUMMARYSelf‐fertility has evolved many times in nematodes. This transition often produces an androdioecious species, with XX hermaphrodites and XO males. Although these hermaphrodites resemble females in most respects, early germ cells differentiate as sperm, and late ones as oocytes. The sperm then receive an activation signal, populate the spermathecae, and are stored for later use in self‐fertilization. These traits are controlled by complex modifications to the sex‐determination and sperm activation pathways, which have arisen independently during the evolution of each hermaphroditic species. This transformation in reproductive strategy then promotes other major changes in the development, evolution, and population structure of these animals. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 84: 144–157, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exploring the sexual diversity of flatworms: Ecology, evolution, and the molecular biology of reproduction
Authors: Ramm Steven A. 
Published: June 2016

SUMMARYFlatworms exhibit huge diversity in their reproductive biology, making this group an excellent model system for exploring how differences among species in reproductive ecology are reflected in the physiological and molecular details of how reproduction is achieved. In this review, I consider five key “lifestyle choices” (i.e., alternative evolutionary/developmental outcomes) that collectively encompass much of flatworm sexual diversity, beginning with the decisions: (i) whether to be free‐living or parasitic; (ii) whether to reproduce asexually or sexually; and (iii) whether to be gonochoristic (separate‐sexed) or hermaphroditic. I then examine two further decisions involving hermaphroditism: (iv) outcrossing versus selfing and (v) the balance of investment into the male versus the female sex function (sex allocation). Collectively, these lifestyle choices set the basic rules for how reproduction occurs, but as I emphasize in the second part of the review, the reproductive biology of flatworms is also greatly impacted by the near‐pervasive and powerful pressure of sexual selection, together with the related phenomena of sperm competition and sexual conflict. Exactly how this plays out, however, is strongly affected by the particular combination of reproductive strategies adopted by each species. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 84: 120–131, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A solution around a backfilled cavity in a low‐permeability poroelastic medium with application in in situ heating tests
Authors: Yu L. , Chen G.J. , Weetjens E. 
Published: June 2016

SummaryThermo‐hydro‐mechanical responses around a cylindrical cavity drilled or excavated in a low‐permeability formation are studied when the cavity is subjected to a time‐dependent thermal loading. The cavity is considered backfilled after it is supported by casing or lining. Solutions of temperature, pore water pressure, stress, and displacement responses are analytically formulated based on Biot's consolidation theory with the assumption that the backfilling material, supporting material, and surrounding low‐permeability formation are poroelastic media. The solution is expressed in Laplace space, and numerical inversion techniques are used to find field variables in the real‐time domain. After the solution is verified with the numerical results, it is applied in a large‐scale in situ heating test – PRACLAY heating test – for a predictive reference calculation and an extensive parametric study. Another medium‐scale in situ heating test – ATLAS III heating test – is also analyzed using the solution, which provides reasonable agreement with measurements. The new analytical solution proves to be a convenient tool for a good understanding of the resulting coupled thermo‐hydro‐mechanical behavior and is therefore valuable for the interpretation of measured data in engineering practices and for a rational design of potential radioactive waste repositories. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An unsymmetric 8‐node hexahedral element with high distortion tolerance
Authors: Zhou Pei‐Lei , Cen Song , Huang Jun‐Bin , Li Chen‐Feng , Zhang Qun 
Published: June 2016

SummaryAmong all 3D 8‐node hexahedral solid elements in current finite element library, the ‘best’ one can produce good results for bending problems using coarse regular meshes. However, once the mesh is distorted, the accuracy will drop dramatically. And how to solve this problem is still a challenge that remains outstanding. This paper develops an 8‐node, 24‐DOF (three conventional DOFs per node) hexahedral element based on the virtual work principle, in which two different sets of displacement fields are employed simultaneously to formulate an unsymmetric element stiffness matrix. The first set simply utilizes the formulations of the traditional 8‐node trilinear isoparametric element, while the second set mainly employs the analytical trial functions in terms of 3D oblique coordinates (R, S, T). The resulting element, denoted by US‐ATFH8, contains no adjustable factor and can be used for both isotropic and anisotropic cases. Numerical examples show it can strictly pass both the first‐order (constant stress/strain) patch test and the second‐order patch test for pure bending, remove the volume locking, and provide the invariance for coordinate rotation. Especially, it is insensitive to various severe mesh distortions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thermal properties and dielectric relaxation of a multi‐component poly(ether‐co‐amide) based on polyamide‐12
Authors: Yoshiba Kazuto , Satomi Tsuyoshi , Ishii Tomohiro , Dobashi Toshiaki 
Published: June 2016

AbstractDSC, dielectric relaxation and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) were carried out on two multi‐component poly(ether‐co‐amide) samples having different weight ratios of polyamide prepared by condensation polymerization with 12‐aminododecanoic acid, adipic acid and polyetherdiamine consisting of poly(tetramethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide). The melting temperature was lowered by an increase in the weight ratio of the polyamide segment. Three relaxation modes, α′, αs and β, were found from dielectric relaxation measurements in different temperature ranges. The high temperature relaxation mode, α′, has a large dielectric constant, which disappears at the melting temperature of the polyamide crystal in the sample. The relaxation times for the segmental motion, αs, were different for the samples, which is attributed to the difference in the composition of the uncrystallized polyamide segments in the amorphous domain. The glass transition temperature estimated from DMTA is located between those of constituting polymers. On the other hand, the activation energy of β‐mode observed at low temperatures is the same for samples with different polyamide ratios, which is attributed to the local motion of the polyether segments. The uncrystallized polyamide segments are miscible with the polyether segments, which results in a lowering of the glass transition temperature of the amorphous domain and enlarges the temperature range of the rubber state of the copolymer due to the high melting temperature of the polyamide segments. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Increasing the quantum efficiency of InAs/GaAs QD arrays for solar cells grown by MOVPE without using strain‐balance technology
Authors: Kalyuzhnyy Nikolay A. , Mintairov Sergey A. , Salii Roman A. , Nadtochiy Alexey M. , Payusov Alexey S. , Brunkov Pavel N. , Nevedomsky Vladimir N. , Shvarts Maxim Z. , Martí Antonio , Andreev Viacheslav M. , Luque Antonio 
Published: June 2016

AbstractResearch into the formation of InAs quantum dots (QDs) in GaAs using the metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy technique is presented. This technique is deemed to be cheaper than the more often used and studied molecular beam epitaxy. The best conditions for obtaining a high photoluminescence response, indicating a good material quality, have been found among a wide range of possibilities. Solar cells with an excellent quantum efficiency have been obtained, with a sub‐bandgap photo‐response of 0.07 mA/cm2 per QD layer, the highest achieved so far with the InAs/GaAs system, proving the potential of this technology to be able to increase the efficiency of lattice‐matched multi‐junction solar cells and contributing to a better understanding of QD technology toward the achievement of practical intermediate‐band solar cells. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An ITC Study on the Interaction Energy Between Galactomannan Biopolymers and Selected MO2 Nanoparticles in Hydrogels
Authors: Hurnaus Thomas , Plank Johann 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe interaction of guar gum, a galactomannan polysaccharide, and its derivative hydroxypropyl guar (HPG) with MO2 nanoparticles whereby M exhibits a decreasing metallic character (Ti → Sn → Si) and MO2 different sizes (6 – 15 nm) was studied by applying isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and rotational viscosimetry. It was found that the crosslinking ability of the oxide nanoparticles towards galactomannans is controlled by the electropositive character of M and the size of the nanoparticles which should be as small as possible (< 10 nm) to produce extremely viscous gels. The thermodynamic parameters ΔH, ΔS and ΔG for the association reaction obtained from ITC revealed that the interaction generally is entropy driven, slightly stronger for guar gum than for HPG and is decreasing from TiO2 to SnO2 to SiO2. The results explain the observations made in the viscosimetric measurements.
Synthesis of Cr(III) Salen Complexes as Supramolecular Catalytic Systems for Ring‐Opening Reactions of Epoxides
Authors: Lindbäck Emil , Norouzi‐Arasi Hassan , Sheibani Esmaeil , Ma Dayou , Dawaigher Sami , Wärnmark Kenneth 
Published: June 2016

AbstractThe synthesis of two conformationally restricted Cr(III) salen complexes, 2 and 3, is described. Together, they constitute a supramolecular hydrogen‐bonding catalytic system for the recently reported asymmetric ring‐opening reactions of epoxides by a dynamic supramolecular catalyst. The synthesis involves state‐of‐the art transformations in frontline synthetic chemistry applied to heterocyclic chemistry. Hence, palladium‐catalyzed reactions were employed, including carbonylative annelation and Suzuki cross‐coupling reactions, for the formation of one of the heterocyclic rings (quinolone) and the functionalization of the formed rings. For the construction of the second heterocyclic ring (isoquinolone), a Curtius rearrangement was employed. The corresponding salen ligands were then prepared by Schiff‐base reactions, yielding the final complexes after metal insertion. For reference purposes the less conformationally restricted Cr(III) complexes 4 and 5 were also synthesized.