bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of QT‐prolonging medications in US emergency departments, 1995–2009
Authors: Tay Khoon‐Yen , Ewald Michele Burns , Bourgeois Florence T. 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTPurposeEmergency department (ED) patients receive medications that place them at risk for adverse events, including drug‐induced prolongation of the QT interval, which can lead to Torsade de Pointes and sudden cardiac death. We report the frequency of prescription and co‐prescription of QT‐prolonging medications in US EDs and factors associated with high‐risk prescribing practices.MethodsWe analyzed the ED component of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for 1995 through 2009. Yearly rates of visits involving the prescription of QT‐prolonging medications were determined. Multivariate regression analyses identified factors associated with the prescription of two or more QT‐prolonging medications.ResultsApproximately 16.5 million visits annually (15.0%) involved prescription of a QT‐prolonging drug, with 1.7 million (1.6%) involving multiple prescriptions. Visits associated with QT‐prolonging drugs more than doubled over the study period (10.4% to 22.2%). Diphenhydramine, azithromycin, and ondansetron were most frequently implicated (46.1% of cases). The most commonly prescribed combination was diphenhydramine and famotidine, both QT‐prolonging medications available over‐the‐counter. Female gender and older age were associated with co‐prescription of QT‐prolonging medications. The rate of EKG screening among visits associated with QT‐prolonging drug combinations was low (20.9%), but more common than among visits without a QT‐prolonging drug (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2–1.5).ConclusionUse of QT‐prolonging medications is increasing in EDs nationally. A small number of agents account for a large proportion of these visits and may represent an area for targeted screening or monitoring interventions in the ED. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Completeness of prescription information in US commercial claims databases
Authors: Lauffenburger Julie C. , Balasubramanian Akhila , Farley Joel F. , Critchlow Cathy W. , O'Malley Cynthia D. , Roth Mary T. , Pate Virginia , Brookhart M. Alan 
Published: May 2013

ABSTRACTPurposePharmacy commercial claims databases are widely used for pharmacoepidemiologic research. However, concerns have been raised that these databases may not fully capture claims for generic medications as a result of patients filling outside the context of their insurance. This has implications for many research activities and quality improvement programs. We sought to estimate the percentage of missing prescriptions in US commercial claims data using a novel design.MethodsUsing a large US commercial insurance database, we examined the completeness of warfarin prescription claims among patients with atrial fibrillation receiving regular medical follow‐up and testing to manage warfarin dosing. We examined 14 different 6‐month cross sections. Each cross section was treated independently to identify patients with at least two outpatient diagnoses of atrial fibrillation, two international normalized ratio tests, and one pharmacy claim. Trends in the percentage of patients with prescription claims for generic and branded warfarin were compared by year and 6‐month periods using chi‐square tests and generalized linear models adjusting for patient characteristics.ResultsOut of 111 170 patients, the percentage of patients with any warfarin drug decreased slightly from 91.7% (95% CI: 91.0, 92.4) in early 2003 to 87.1% (95% CI: 86.7–87.6) in late 2009 (χ2 = 93.8, p < 0.0001). Over the same interval, the proportion of patients with generic warfarin exposure appearing increased significantly, whereas the proportion of patients with branded warfarin exposure decreased significantly.ConclusionsOur study supports the possibility that some prescriptions may not be captured in US commercial insurance databases. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective oxidation of ethanol in the liquid phase over Au/TiO2
Authors: Heeskens Denise , Aghaei Pedram , Kaluza Stefan , Strunk Jennifer , Muhler Martin 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe selective oxidation of aqueous ethanol solutions with air over two commercial 1.5 and 1 wt% Au/TiO2 catalysts was investigated in six stirred mini‐autoclaves operated in parallel. The catalysts were characterised by various techniques including elemental analysis, N2 physisorption, X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Temperature, pressure, ethanol concentration, catalyst concentration and reaction time were varied in the batch experiments to study the reaction kinetics. It was possible to confirm the generally accepted mechanism of primary alcohol oxidation, in which acetaldehyde is a primary product of the oxidation that quickly undergoes further transformation to acetic acid. In presence of both acetic acid and ethanol the formation of ethyl acetate takes place until equilibrium conditions are reached. The high yields of acetic acid can be rationalised by the inhibited total oxidation of acetic acid under the applied reaction conditions. Improper storage of the gold catalysts in air exposed to light was found to lead to an irreversible change of the performance, which cannot be restored by means of recalcination. Sintering and blocking of surface sites by deposits were ruled out as possible causes for the deactivation.
The thermally induced interaction of Cu and Au with ZnO single crystal surfaces
Authors: Köhler Ulrich , Kroll Martin , Löber Thomas , Birkner Alexander , Schott Vadim , Wöll Christof 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe reaction of Cu‐clusters with a polar and a mixed terminated single crystalline ZnO‐substrate upon thermal treatment in UHV is studied in comparison with Au‐films. Scanning tunneling microcopy and spectroscopy in combination with photoemission experiments reveal the geometrical and chemical changes in the Cu‐cluster system on ZnO(0001)‐Zn and ZnO(10$\overline {1} $0) upon annealing up to 770 K. On ZnO($10\overline {1} 0$) the Cu‐clusters show a roof like outline with Cu(111) side facets. The data points to a Cu(110) interface with the ZnO‐substrate. The interface of the Cu‐clusters and the ZnO‐substrate was investigated by the controlled removal of clusters using STM‐tip manipulation exposing the “footprints” of the clusters. On both investigated ZnO surfaces an entrenching of the Cu‐clusters during annealing was found which partly explains the observed decrease of the amount of Cu visible above the ZnO‐substrate level upon annealing. Even at higher annealing temperature the main body of the cluster surface is still pure copper. No large scale oxidation or brass formation was found. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy shows an increased density of occupied states at the cluster perimeter which is possibly relevant as an active site in catalysis.
Conformational Study of an Artificial Metal‐Dependent Regulation Site for Use in Designer Proteins
Authors: Oheix Emmanuel , Spencer Neil , Gethings Lee A. , Peacock Anna F. A. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThis report describes the dimerisation of glutathione, and by extension, other cysteine‐containing peptides or protein fragments, with a 5, 5'‐disubstituted‐2, 2'‐bipyridine or 6, 6''‐disubstituted‐2, 2':6',2''‐terpyridine unit. The resulting bipy‐GS2 and terpy‐GS2 were investigated as potential metal ion dependent switches in aqueous solution, and were found to predominantly adopt the transoïd conformation at physiological pH. Metal complexation with CuII and ZnII at this pH has been studied by UV/Vis, CD, NMR and ion‐mobility mass spectrometry. ZnII titrations are consistent with the formation of a 1:1 ZnII:terpy‐GS2 complex at pH 7.4, but bipy‐GS2 was shown to form both 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with the former being predominant under dilute micromolar conditions. Formation constants for the resulting 1:1 complexes were determined to be log KM 6.86 (bipy‐GS2) and 6.22 (terpy‐GS2), consistent with a higher affinity for the unconstrained bipyridine, compared to the strained terpyridine. CuII coordination involves the initial formation of 1:1 complexes, followed by 1.5Cu:1bipy‐GS2 and 2Cu:1terpy‐GS2 complexes at micromolar concentrations. Binding constants for formation of the 1:1 complexes (log KM 12.5 (bipy‐GS2); 8.04 and 7.14 (terpy‐GS2)) indicate a higher affinity for CuII than ZnII. Finally, ion‐mobility MS studies detected the free ligands in their protonated form, and were consistent with the formation of two different Cu adducts with different conformations in the gas‐phase. We illustrate that the bipyridine and terpyridine dimerisation units can behave like conformational switches in response to Cu/Zn complexation, and propose that in future these can be employed in synthetic biology with larger peptide or protein fragments, to control large scale folding and related biological function.
Preparation, Crystal Structure, and Thermal Decomposition of the Four‐coordinated Zinc Compound Based on 1,5‐Diaminotetrazole
Authors: Wu Bi‐Dong , Li Fu‐Gang , Zhang Tong‐Lai , Yang Li , Zhou Zun‐Ning , Zhang Jian‐Guo 
Published: May 2013

AbstractThe environmental friendly energetic coordination compound Zn(DAT)2(Ac)2 (1) (Ac = acetic) was synthesized from 1,5‐diaminotetrazole (DAT), and characterized by elemental analysis and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure was determined by X‐ray single crystal diffraction. The crystallographic data showed that compound 1 belongs to the monoclinic system, space group Cc, with cell parameters: a = 17.595(5) Å, b = 7.3060(18) Å, c = 14.076(4) Å, β = 123.449(4)°, V = 1509.7(7) Å3, Z = 4, Dc = 1.688 g·cm–3. In 1, the zinc cation is four‐coordinated with two oxygen atoms from the two acetic carboxyl groups and two 4‐nitrogen atoms of DAT molecules, and exhibits a distorted‐tetrahedron configuration. Thermal decomposition mechanism was determined based on differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetry‐derivative thermogravimetry (TG‐DTG) analysis. Kinetic parameters of the first exothermic process were studied by using Kissinger's method and Ozawa's method, respectively. The critical temperature of thermal explosion, entropy of activation (ΔS≠), enthalpy of activation (ΔH≠), and free energy of activation (ΔG≠) were calculated and obtained as 519.71 K, –144.04 J·(K·mol)–1, 152.20 kJ·mol–1 and 224.99 kJ·mol–1, respectively. The constant‐volume energy of combustion (9.78 MJ·kg–1) was measured by oxygen bomb calorimetry, which was equal to that of RDX. In the end, the sensitivities properties were also determined with standard method.
A Panoptic View of Western Margin of Sundaland: Causes of Seismic Vulnerability of Sumatra
Authors: Deonath Abhijit , Mukhopadhyay Basab 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
The western margin of Sundaland is affected by two major tectonic events, the India-Eurasia collision and subduction along the Burmese-Andaman-Sunda Arc. Geotectonic analysis of the Burmese-Andaman-Sunda Arc areas reveals that it represents an arc setting exposed both in land and sea environment. Within this broad arc setting, there are individual segments that illustrate discernible trends in terms of structural, seismic and geological characteristics. The Equatorial Region around Sumatra has some peculiar geological/geophysical characteristics that make it a tectonic hotspot. Here a relationship between the active volcanism and the development of forearc basins is established. It is also proposed that the downgoing oceanic plate is more strongly coupled to the overlying plate where it is youngest (~ 40 Ma), has the highest temperature and is topographically most elevated with highest seismic activity. In particular, an increase in convergence rate and presence of youngest oceanic crust appear to be the main controlling factor underpinning the tectonics and surge of recent seismic activity in Sumatra.
Clay Mineralogy of the Pleistocene Soil Horizon in Barind Tract, Bangladesh
Authors: Aftabuzzaman MD. , Kabir Sohail , Islam MD. Khairul , Alam M. Shafiqul 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
Pleistocene red soil horizons were exposed in different areas of the Barind Tract in north-west Bangladesh. X-ray diffractions of twenty seven samples from different depths of these soil horizons revealed that the soil horizons consisted of kaolinite, illite and chrysotile with significant amount of opal-CT. Samples from Maddhapara, Bogra, and Nachole contain kaolinite, illite, quartz and opal-CT, and the samples from Kantabari contain chrysotile instead of kaolinite.
Clay mineral compositions of different soil horizons indicated two different types of clay assemblages, viz. (a) illite-kaolinite and (b) illite-chrysotile. In the village of Kantabari, illite-chrysotile clay mineral assemblage indicate that soil horizons were formed under low temperatures with alkaline and reducing conditions. However, other soil horizons of illite-kaolinite clay mineral assemblage indicate that soils were possibly formed under humid, temperate and well-drained conditions. These two soil horizons were formed under different geochemical, geomorphological and climatic conditions from different parent materials.
Scanning Electron Microscopy photographs showing the presence of glass shards and no opal-A were found using XRD, suggesting that the opal-A might not be a precursor to opal-CT in the red soil horizon of the study area. This opal-CT along with the general lack of fossils and presence of glass shards was indicative of a volcanogenic rather than biogenic origin for the Opal-CT in the study area, and X-ray fluorescence data reveals higher percentages of silica which is comparable to the Toba Ash of Toba Caldera, Indonesia of about 75,000 B.P.
Spatial Variations of Groundwater Vulnerability using Cluster Analysis
Authors: Rao N. Subba , Rao P. Surya , Varma D. Deva 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
An investigation on quality of groundwater has been carried out in the river basin of Varaha located in Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh to find out the factors that are responsible for spatial variations of water vulnerability. The study area is underlain by the Precambrian rocks of Eastern Ghats over which the Recent Formations occur. Groundwater is a prime source for drinking and irrigation. The quality of groundwater is fresh and brackish with dominance of the latter. Groundwater samples are categorized into two major clusters A and B, using the dendrogram of cluster analyses. Out of these two major clusters, five sub-clusters I to V in the pre-monsoon season and six sub-clusters I to VI in the post-monsoon season are identified. The sub-clusters I to IV of pre-monsoon and I to V of post-monsoon seasons of the cluster A are characterized by less mineralized groundwater compared to those of V of pre-monsoon and VI of post-monsoon seasons of the cluster B, which represent highly mineralized groundwater. The low to high mineral content follows gradually from upstream to the downstream area, being higher in post-monsoon season in both the clusters A and B, depending upon the source, mineral dissolution, and precipitation, solubility and leaching of ions, ion exchange and adsorption processes. Spatial distributions of the sub-clusters give clues to understand the factors that cause variations of groundwater vulnerability at a specific site, vis-a-vis local and regional lithological and non-lithological influences. As a result, the quality of groundwater on a regional scale changes from Na+&gt;Mg2+&gt;Ca2+&gt;K+:HCO3−&gt;Cl−&gt;SO42−&gt;NO3−&gt;F− in the cluster in the cluster B, following the topography. The classification of the area into the zones of relative groundwater vulnerability with respect to drinking water quality of the chemical composition of the sub-clusters helps the planners to identify the specific locations, where the inferior quality of groundwater can occur, for taking the remedial measures.
High-K Calc-alkaline Plutonism in Zouzan, NE of Lut Block, Eastern Iran: An Evidence for Arc Related Magmatism in Cenozoic
Authors: Mazhari S. A. , Safari M. 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
The Zouzan pluton is one of the intrusive bodies in the NE of Lut block enclosed by Cenozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks. It consists of two distinct mafic and felsic magmas which are genetically unrelated. All studied rocks are calc-alkaline in nature, with LILE/REE and HFSE/REE ratios compatible with arc related magmatism. Mafic phase has dioritic composition emplaced as small stocks in felsic rocks. Geochemical characteristics in dioritic rocks (relatively high contents of incompatible elements, low Na2O and Mg#&gt;44) suggest they were derived from partial melting of metabasalt sources in a subduction settings. Felsic phase composed of granodiorite to granite rocks with high-K calc-alkaline metaluminous to slightly peraluminous signature. Major and trace element data exclude high pressure melting and metasedimentary parental in the formation of Zouzan felsic rocks. They have been formed by partial melting of mantle-derived mafic rocks. Field relation, petrographical evidences and chemical composition show that partial melting of a mantle wedge in conjunction with magma mixing and crystal fractionation would have led to generation of Zouzan pluton.
Petro-chemical Investigation of some Perhydrous Indian Coals
Authors: Baruah Bimala P. , Sharma Arpita , Saikia Binoy K 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
An attempt has been made to study the petro-chemical characteristics of some high sulphur sub-bituminous coal samples from Makum coalfield, Assam, India. The proximate and ultimate analyes were carried out and forms of sulphur were determined and their relationships with the Maceral constituents (vitrinite, liptinite, and inertinite) were investigated. The macerals (vitrinite+liptinite+inertinite) have significant relationships (R2&gt;0.500) with volatile matter and carbon, whereas weak correlations were seen with rest of the physico-chemical characteristics of the coals. The study reveals that these coals are rich in vitrinites and sulphur and are aromatic in nature. These coals have good hydrocarbon potential.
Pregnancy outcome after loop electrosurgical excision procedure for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: Frega Antonio , Sesti Francesco , De Sanctis Luana , Pacchiarotti Arianna , Votano Sergio , Biamonti Alberto , Sopracordevole Francesco , Scirpa Paolo , Catalano Angelica , Caserta Donatella , Gentile Marco , Schimberni Mauro , Moscarini Massimo 
Published: May 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo determine pregnancy outcomes among women who underwent loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).MethodsIn a case–control study in Italy, 475 pregnant women who underwent LEEP and 441 untreated pregnant women were enrolled between January 2003 and January 2007. Outcome measures were spontaneous abortion, preterm delivery, and at‐term delivery rates. Continuous and discrete variables were analyzed via t, χ2, and Fisher exact tests. Groups were compared by analysis of variance and Tukey HSD test.ResultsThe spontaneous abortion rate was 14.5% and 14.1% in the LEEP and untreated groups, respectively. The preterm delivery rate was 6.4% and 5.0% in the LEEP and untreated groups, respectively. The number of women with a cervical length of less than 30 mm was higher in the LEEP group, but this did not influence preterm delivery rate (odds ratio [OR], 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53–1.95). Among women with a cervical length of less than 15 mm, those treated with a wider removal of cervical tissue showed increased risk of preterm delivery (OR, 5.31; 95% CI, 1.01–28.07).ConclusionThe preterm delivery rate was not higher among women who underwent LEEP than among untreated women. Preterm delivery was associated with cone size and cervical length in the second trimester.
The ε4 genotype of apolipoprotein E and white matter integrity in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Kljajevic Vanja , Meyer Peter , Holzmann Carsten , Dyrba Martin , Kasper Elisabeth , Bokde Arun L.W. , Fellgiebel Andreas , Meindl Thomas , Hampel Harald , Teipel Stefan ,   EDSD study group
Published: May 2013

AbstractBackgroundIn this multicenter study, we investigated a possible association between the APOE ε4 allele and white matter (WM) integrity in Alzheimer's disease (AD) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).MethodsWe analyzed fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) as indices of WM integrity in 70 AD patients (35 APOE ε4 carriers, 35 noncarriers) and 56 healthy control (HC) subjects (28 APOE ε4 carriers, 28 noncarriers). APOE ε4 carriers and noncarriers were matched for age and gender within each diagnostic group.ResultsWe found significant effects of diagnosis (Pcorrected < .05 [FWE]; i.e., smaller FA values and larger MD values in AD patients compared with HCs) and significant effects (P < .001) of APOE ε4 carrier status on MD in HCs but not in AD subjects.ConclusionsThe results indicate that APOE ε4 has a moderate effect on WM integrity in HCs, but no effect on WM integrity in manifest AD.
Emerging Techniques in the Electrodiagnostic Laboratory
Authors: Nandedkar Sanjeev D. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractElectrodiagnostic techniques have been used for many decades to study neuromuscular diseases. In recent years, we have seen the extension of these methods to study disease progression, complemented by other technologies, for example, ultrasonography. There also is a growing interest in using surface electromyography, which is generally better accepted by patients than needle insertions. This article will discuss these trends and give examples of a few new and emerging methods that have the potential for use in an electrodiagnostic laboratory.
ENTRY INTO MOTHERHOOD AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN TWO INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS IN NAIROBI, KENYA
Authors: BEGUY DONATIEN , NDUGWA ROBERT , KABIRU CAROLINE W. 
Published: May 2013

SummaryThe contribution of adolescents' childbearing to total fertility rates in many sub-Saharan African countries is higher than in other parts of the world. In this paper, data collected from 897 female adolescents aged 15–19 years are analysed to investigate patterns and determinants of entry into motherhood in two informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, using Kaplan–Meier estimates and Cox regression models. About 15% of these adolescents have had a child. The findings show that marriage, being out of school and having negative models in peer, family and school contexts are associated with early childbearing among females aged 15–17 years. For adolescents aged 18–19 years, school attendance considerably delays entry into motherhood while marriage hastens its timing. Furthermore, older adolescents with high levels of social controls (parental monitoring or perceived peer orientation to or approval of prosocial behaviours) and individual controls (high religiosity and positive orientation to schooling) are likely to delay childbearing. Programmes aiming to reduce risky sexual behaviours that could lead to childbearing among adolescents should be introduced very early, and before the onset of sexual activity. Also, the findings underscore the need to identify and address the risky factors and reinforce the protective ones in order to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes of adolescent girls in Nairobi slum settlements.