bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Refill adherence and polypharmacy among patients with type 2 diabetes in general practice
Authors: van Bruggen Rykel , Gorter Kees , Stolk Ronald P. , Zuithoff Peter , Klungel Olaf H. , Rutten Guy E.H.M. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBackground and AimsNon‐adherence is considered a major barrier to better outcomes of diabetes care. A relationship has been established between polypharmacy and patients' adherence. This study aims to investigate the occurrence of polypharmacy and non‐adherence in general practice, their mutual relationship and the association between adherence and the intermediate outcomes of diabetes care.Materials and MethodsWe used the baseline and follow‐up data of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) that compared usual care with care in accordance with a locally adapted national guideline. This study took place in the Netherlands and involved 30 general practices and 1283 patients. We obtained a complete medication profile of all participants and calculated the number of prescribed drugs and the adherence indices (AI) for oral blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs. Patients with an adherence index < 0.8 were considered non‐adherent. Clustering at practice level and case‐mix were taken into account.ResultsApproximately 80% of the participating patients demonstrated an adherence index ≥ 0.8 for oral blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol lowering drugs. In the intervention group, increase of drug prescriptions exceeded that of controls (1.1 ± 2.0 vs. 0.6 ± 1.5, p < 0.001, adjusted p < 0.05). There was evidence of an inverse relationship between the number of drugs that had been prescribed during the last 6 months of the study and patients' adherence to blood pressure lowering medications (adjusted OR 0.84, 95%CI 0.78–0.91). After one year, HbA1c and total cholesterol levels were significantly lower in adherent patients.ConclusionDuring the intervention the mean number of drug prescriptions increased in both the study groups. This did not result in a lower adherence to blood glucose and cholesterol lowering medications. Given the relationship between the number of medications and patients' adherence to blood pressure lowering drugs, it may be wise to discuss adherence before prescribing multiple drug regimens. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preparation of grafted polytetrafluoroethylene fibers and adsorption of bilirubin
Authors: Han Xiao‐yan , Zhang Zheng‐pu 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: A successful hemoperfusion technique requires that the adsorbent for bilirubin should have a high specificity, adsorption capacity and adsorption rate, blood compatibility and no toxicity. Compared with polymer microbeads, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fibers have many advantages. The aim of the work reported here was to prepare a new polytetrafluoroethylene‐graft‐poly(glycidyl methacrylate)‐block‐polyethyleneimine (PTFE‐g‐PGMA‐b‐PEI) adsorbent for bilirubin based on PTFE fibers by the 60Co radiation‐induced graft polymerization of GMA followed by the chemical modification of the epoxy groups on the PTFE‐g‐PGMA fibers with PEI. In addition, the adsorption properties of this novel adsorbent for bilirubin were examined.RESULTS: The highest content of amino groups obtained on the PTFE‐g‐PGMA‐b‐PEI fibers was 1.87 mmol g−1. The maximum adsorption capacity of the grafted fibers was 9.6 mg g−1 at pH = 6.5. Bilirubin adsorption on these fibers obeyed the Langmuir model. Also, these fibers possessed the ability to selectively adsorb bilirubin in the presence of bovine serum albumin.CONCLUSION: The PTFE‐g‐PGMA‐b‐PEI fibers have a high adsorption capacity for bilirubin and excellent adsorption properties. In addition, this new adsorbent is inexpensive, easy to prepare and has no toxicity. So the PTFE‐g‐PGMA‐b‐PEI fibers as a biomedical adsorbent are promising for the removal of bilirubin through the hemoperfusion technique. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Preparation of albumin–ferrite superparamagnetic nanoparticles using reverse micelles
Authors: Bellusci Mariangela , La Barbera Aurelio , Seralessandri Luca , Padella Franco , Piozzi Antonella , Varsano Francesca 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBACKGROUND: Micellar systems are widely applied as reactors to encapsulate inorganic nanoparticles in polymeric materials. However, only low inorganic contents and microscale dimensions are often achieved.RESULTS: The adsorption of albumin protein on ferrite nanoparticles permits to increase the stability of inorganic dispersions in water by inhibiting particle flocculation. Subsequent glutaraldehyde addition induces protein crosslinking and ferrite entrapment. Polymer–ferrite composite nanoparticles were obtained in this way. The magnetic albumin nanoparticles (25 nm mean diameter) obtained contain about 40 wt% of ferrite and show superparamagnetic behaviour. The composite powder was successfully functionalized with a model drug and the biological activity was evaluated.CONCLUSION: Using a reverse micelle approach, ferrite–albumin composite nanoparticles with a high inorganic content were obtained. The method permits the formulation of biocompatible magnetic particles of nanoscale dimensions. The exhibited superparamagnetic behaviour permits to hypothesize an application of the powder composite as a carrier in biomedical technologies. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Ionic IPNs as novel candidates for highly conductive solid polymer electrolytes
Authors: Shaplov Alexander S. , Goujon Laurent , Vidal Frédéric , Lozinskaya Elena I. , Meyer Franck , Malyshkina Inna A. , Chevrot Claude , Teyssié Dominique , Odinets Irina L. , Vygodskii Yakov S. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractFive ionic imidazolium based monomers, namely 1‐vinyl‐3‐ethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (ILM1), 1‐vinyl‐3‐(diethoxyphosphinyl)‐propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (ILM2), 1‐[2‐(2‐methyl‐acryloyloxy)‐propyl]‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (ILM3), 1‐[2‐(2‐methyl‐acryloyloxy)‐undecyl]‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (ILM4), 1‐vinyl‐3‐ethylimidazolium dicyanamide (ILM5) were prepared and used for the synthesis of linear polymeric ionic liquids (PILs), crosslinked networks with polyethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (PEGDM) and interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on polybutadiene (PB). The ionic conductivities of IPNs prepared using an in situ strategy were found to depend on the ILM nature, Tg and the ratio of the other components. Novel ionic IPNs are characterized by increased flexibility, small swelling ability in ionic liquids (ILs) along with high conductivity and preservation of mechanical stability even in a swollen state. The maximum conductivity for a pure IPN was equal to 3.6 × 10−5 S/cm at 20 °C while for IPN swollen in [1‐Me‐3‐Etim] (CN)2N σ reached 8.5 × 10−3 S/cm at 20 °C or 1.4 × 10−2 S/cm at 50 °C. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4245–4266, 2009
Noncovalently connected micelles based on a β‐cyclodextrin‐containing polymer and adamantane end‐capped poly(ε‐caprolactone) via host–guest interactions
Authors: Ren Shendong , Chen Daoyong , Jiang Ming 
Published: July 2009

AbstractNew random copolymers, poly(N‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone‐co‐mono‐6‐deoxy‐6‐methacrylate ethylamino‐β‐cyclodextrin) (PnvpCD) bearing pendent β‐cyclodextrin (CD) groups were synthesized. PnvpCD formed soluble graft‐like polymer complex with adamantane (AD) end‐capped poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PclAD) in their common solvent N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone driven by the inclusion interactions between the CD and AD groups. The formation of the graft complex has been confirmed by viscometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and isothermal titration calorimeter. The graft complex self‐assembled further into noncovalently connected micelles in water, which is a selective solvent for the main chain PnvpCD. Transmission electron microscopy, DLS, and atomic force microscopy have been used to investigate the structure and morphology of the resultant micelles. A unique “multicore” structure of the micelles, in which small PclAD domains scattered within the micelles, was obtained under nonequilibrium conditions in the preparation. However, the micelles prepared in a condition close to equilibrium possess an ordinary core‐shell structure. In both cases, the core and shell are believed to be connected by the AD‐CD inclusion complexation. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4267–4278, 2009
Anionic amphiphilic end‐linked conetworks by the combination of quasiliving carbocationic and group transfer polymerizations
Authors: Kali Gergely , Georgiou Theoni K. , Iván Béla , Patrickios Costas S. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA series of amphiphilic end‐linked conetworks was synthesized by the combination of two “quasiliving” polymerization techniques, quasiliving carbocationic (QLCCP) and group transfer polymerizations (GTP). The hydrophobic monomer was polyisobutylene methacrylate synthesized by the QLCCP of isobutylene and subsequent terminal modification reactions. The hydrophilic monomer was methacrylic acid (MAA) introduced via the polymerization of 2‐tetrahydropyranyl methacrylate followed by acid hydrolysis after (co)network formation. The conetwork syntheses were performed by sequential monomer/crosslinker additions under GTP conditions. All the precursors and the extractables from the conetworks were characterized by gel permeation chromatography and 1H NMR. The resulting polymer conetworks were investigated in terms of their degree of swelling (DS) in aqueous media and in tetrahydrofuran (THF) over the whole range of ionization of the MAA units and in n‐hexane for uncharged conetworks. The DSs in water increased with the degree of ionization (DI) of the MAA units and the hydrophilic content in the conetwork, whereas the DSs in THF increased with the reduction of the DI of the MAA units. The effective pK of the MAA units in the conetworks increased from 8.4 to 10.5 with decreasing MAA content. These findings can facilitate the design of similar unique conetworks with adjustable swelling behavior and composition‐dependent pK values. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4289–4301, 2009
Polymerization of higher α‐olefins using a Cs‐symmetry hafnium metallocene catalyst. Kinetics of the polymerization and microstructural analysis
Authors: Kotzabasakis Vasilios , Kostakis Konstantinos , Pitsikalis Marinos , Hadjichristidis Nikos , Lohse David J. , Mavromoustakos Thomas , Potamitis Constantinos 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe Cs‐symmetry hafnium metallocene [(p‐Et3Si)C6H4]2C(2,7‐di‐tert‐BuFlu)(C5H4)Hf(CH3)2 and tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl) borate dimethylanilinium salt ([B(C6F5)4]−[Me2NHPh]+) were used as the catalytic system for the polymerization of higher α‐olefins (from hexene‐1 to hexadecene‐1) in toluene at 0 °C. The evolution of the polymerization was studied regarding the variation of the molecular weight, molecular weight distribution and yield with time. The effect of the monomer structure on the polymerization kinetics was established. The role of trioctylaluminum in accelerating the polymerization was investigated. 13C NMR spectroscopy was used to study the microstructure of the poly(α‐olefins) by the determination of the pentad monomer sequences. The thermal properties of the polymers were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry, DSC. The results were discussed in connection with the polymer microstructure. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4314–4325, 2009
Plasma Processes Combined with Colloidal Lithography to Produce Nanostructured Surfaces for Cell‐Adhesion
Authors: Pistillo Bianca Rita , Gristina Roberto , Sardella Eloisa , Lovascio Sara , Favia Pietro , Nardulli Marina , d'Agostino Riccardo 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe objective of the present work is to develop nanostructured surfaces by combining low pressure plasma process and colloidal lithography, with the aim of obtaining suitable substrates with predetermined ordered nanometric surface roughness and surface chemical composition. The chemical properties of the resulting nanostructures were characterized by means of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and water contact angle (WCA) measurements, their morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of both chemistry and morphology on Saos‐2 osteoblast cell behavior was investigated.
Correlation between selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase activity in serum and human prostate tissue
Authors: Takata Yumie , Morris J. Steven , King Irena B. , Kristal Alan R. , Lin Daniel W. , Peters Ulrike 
Published: July 2009

AbstractBACKGROUNDLow serum selenium concentration has been associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. A possible mechanism is through the antioxidant activity of selenoenzymes. However, the effect of selenium intake on selenoenzymes at target tissues is not well established. Hence, we investigated the correlation between serum and prostate tissue selenium concentrations and prostate tissue activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), a major selenoenzyme with antioxidant properties.METHODSIn an ongoing study investigating gene expression in prostate tissue, we measured serum selenium concentration in 98 men using atomic absorption spectrometry. Of these men, we selected 12 men with the highest and 12 men with the lowest serum selenium concentrations and measured selenium concentration and GPX activity in fresh frozen prostate tissue using the cyclic neutron activation analysis and a direct spectrophotometric procedure, respectively.RESULTSThe mean serum selenium concentrations among low and high selenium groups were 123.7 ± 5.9 and 196.7 ± 16.6 µg/L (P < 0.0001), respectively. The corresponding mean prostate tissue selenium concentrations were 1.39 ± 0.28 and 1.65 ± 0.42 µg/g (P = 0.08), resulting in a positive correlation between serum and prostate tissue selenium concentrations (r = 0.56, P = 0.02). The mean prostate tissue GPX activity was non‐significantly greater in the low serum selenium group (32.2 ± 8.4 U/g protein) than in the high serum selenium group (29.6 ± 5.9 U/g protein) (P = 0.39) and it was not correlated with serum or prostate tissue selenium concentrations (r = −0.22, P = −0.37 for serum and r = −0.33, P = 0.18 for prostate tissue).CONCLUSIONSerum and prostate tissue selenium concentrations were moderately correlated. In this population with relatively high selenium concentration, neither prostate tissue nor serum selenium concentrations were associated with prostate tissue GPX activity. Prostate 69: 1635–1642, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural and functional studies of the potent anti‐HIV chemokine variant P2‐RANTES
Authors: Jin Hongjun , Kagiampakis Ioannis , Li Pingwei , LiWang Patricia J. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe N‐terminal region of the chemokine RANTES is critical for its function. A synthesized N‐terminally modified analog of RANTES, P2‐RANTES, was discovered using a phage display selection against living CCR5‐expressing cells, and has been reported to inhibit HIV‐1 env‐mediated cell–cell fusion at subnanomolar levels (Hartley et al. J Virol 2003;77:6637–6644). In the present study we produced this protein using E. coli overexpression and extensively studied its structure and function. The x‐ray crystal structure of P2‐RANTES was solved and refined at 1.7 Å resolution. This protein was found to be predominantly a monomer in solution by analytical ultracentrifugation, but a tetramer in the crystal. In studies of glycosaminoglycan binding, P2‐RANTES was found to be significantly less able to bind heparin than wild type RANTES. We also tested this protein for receptor internalization where it was shown to be functional, in cell–cell fusion assays where recombinant P2‐RANTES was a potent fusion inhibitor (IC50 = 2.4 ± 0.8 nM), and in single round infection assays where P2‐RANTES inhibited at subnanomolar levels. Further, in a modified fusion assay designed to test specificity of inhibition, P2‐RANTES was also highly effective, with a 65‐fold improvement over the fusion inhibitor C37, which is closely related to the clinically approved inhibitor T‐20. These studies provide detailed structural and functional information for this novel N‐terminally modified chemokine mutant. This information will be very useful in the development of more potent anti‐HIV agents. PDB Accession Number: 2vxw. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development and characterization of PET/Fish Gelatin–nanoclay composite/LDPE laminate
Authors: Bae Ho J. , Park Hyun J. , Darby Duncan O. , Kimmel Robert M. , Whiteside William S. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractA three‐layer laminate film was developed with the following structure: polyethylene terephthalate (PET)/fish gelatin (FG)–nanoclay composite/low‐density polyethylene (LDPE). The FG–nanoclay composite material functioned as the oxygen barrier layer and demonstrated comparable oxygen barrier properties when compared with a similar laminate utilizing ethylene vinyl alcohol as the barrier layer at a relative humidity (RH) of up to 50%. The introduction of nanometer‐sized filler clay into the FG matrix lowered the oxygen permeability (OP) because of the tortuosity effect of the clay particles. In addition, the FG–nanoclay composite film exhibited bond strengths similar to both LDPE and PET. The hydrophilic nature of FG significantly increases OP under high (>50%) RH conditions. However, this new FG laminate film could be a possible alternative for packaging designers desiring a more sustainable packaging material for low‐RH (<50%) applications. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The role of cognitive systems engineering in the systems engineering design process
Authors: Militello Laura G. , Dominguez Cynthia O. , Lintern Gavan , Klein Gary 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe article is intended to aid students and consumers of Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE) in learning about CSE. A proliferation of terms describing CSE and related constructs makes it difficult to sort out differences and similarities across approaches. To aid the reader in exploring CSE, we examine areas of confusion surrounding CSE, define CSE, and discuss the role of CSE in the systems engineering design process. We advocate the use of CSE principles and methods as a means to incorporate worker needs, expertise, cognitive demands, constraints, and goals throughout the design process. Articulation of the value case for CSE is offered as a vehicle to foster collaboration across disciplines. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng
A novel use of neural network model to determine the effects of multibiomarker on early health damage among Chinese steel workers
Authors: Shi Xiu‐Quan , Yang Xiao‐Bo , Wang Zhong‐Xu , Qiu Li , Wu Tang‐Chun , Wang Zeng‐Zhen 
Published: July 2009

AbstractCoke‐oven workers are exposed to many kinds of pollutants that can cause health damage even lead to carcinogenesis. Therefore, it is critical to identify biomarkers that predict early health damage in these exposed individuals in molecular epidemiological studies. We applied an artificial neural network (ANN) model to the identification of such predictors in a study of coke‐oven workers. The study included 330 steel‐factory workers who were exposed to different levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the workplace and their levels of early health damage were determined by cytokinesis‐block micronuclei (CMN), heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) expression, benzo(a)pyrene diolepoxide‐albumin adduct (BPDE‐AA), and olive tail moment (OTM). The ANN model was built to predict the early health damage index, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to illustrate the judged criteria and the ANN model. Trend Chi‐square modeling was also performed. We found that there were 55 subjects with early health damage among 330 workers based on the multibiomarker criteria using the 95 percentile of the control group as the cut‐off value, while there were 22–35 positive subjects if screening by any single biomarker. The Cochran‐Armitage trend test for these findings were statistically significant (Z = 3.21, P = 0.0013). Six variables were selected to simulate the ANN model. The area under ROC (AUROC) was 0.726 ± 0.037 (P < 0.001), and the predictors included workplace, cholesterol, waistline, and others. Therefore, collective using CMN frequency, Hsp70 level, BPDE‐AA level, and OTM with equal weights to make an initial screening test for early health damage in coke‐oven workers is feasible and superior to any single biomarker. The determinants of the effects of multibiomarker on early health damage screening can be identified by the ANN model and ROC curve method. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 26: 1–9, 2011.
Study of the properties of compatibilized ABS/PA6 blends using response surface methodology
Authors: Mohammadian‐Gezaz Somayyeh , Ghasemi Ismaeil , Oromiehie Abdolrasosl 
Published: July 2009

AbstractStyrene‐(maleic anhydride) copolymer (SMA) compatibilized blends of acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber (ABS) and polyamide 6 (PA6) with a variety of compositions and compatibilizer levels were prepared at various screw speeds in a corotating twin screw extruder. A Box–Behnken model for three variables, with three levels, was chosen as an experimental design, and the mechanical properties of the blends were considered as the responses. Each response was analyzed and formulated versus the considered factors by the use of response surface methodology. Impact resistance increased with increased SMA concentration and reduced screw speed. In compatibilized samples, with an increase in PA6 content, higher impact resistance was observed. Increasing PA6 content and SMA concentration, as well as decreasing screw speed, gave improvements in both tensile and flexural strengths. In each case, all of the correlations among factors were studied. Grafting of SMA was proved by detecting the graft copolymer (SMA‐PA6) formed through extraction in formic acid and FTIR spectroscopy. Compared with uncompatibilized blends, compatibilized samples displayed more uniform and finer particle sizes, thereby proving the compatibilizing effect of the graft copolymer. The asymmetry trend in dispersed particle size before and after the phase inversion became more differentiated in the presence of the compatibilizer. Adding SMA lowered the phase inversion composition (based on PA6), whereas higher screw speed increased it. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Copolymerization of pyrrole and vinyl acetate in aqueous and aqueous/nonaqueous media
Authors: Eisazadeh Hossein , Ghorbani Mohsen 
Published: July 2009

AbstractPyrrole/(vinyl acetate) copolymer was prepared in aqueous and aqueous/nonaqueous media by the copolymerization of vinyl acetate and pyrrole using FeCl3/(NH4)2S2O8 and FeCl3/(benzoyl peroxide) as oxidants in the presence of various surfactants such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, poly(ethylene glycol), and hydroxypropylcellulose. The copolymer was characterized in terms of conductivity, morphology, particle size, glass transition temperature, and molecular structure. The results indicated that the morphology, particle size, glass transition temperature, and conductivity of the product were dependent on the types of surfactant and solvent media used. The molecular structure and glass transition temperature of the product were studied by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers