bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a decision aid and a personal risk profile in community pharmacy for patients considering options to improve cardiovascular health: the OPTIONS pilot study
Authors: Lalonde Lyne , O'Connor Annette M , Duguay Pierrette , Brassard Joëlle , Drake Elizabeth , Grover Steven A 
Published: February 2006

Abstract

Objective
In a pilot study, to assess the feasibility and relevance of providing a community pharmacist consultation supplemented by a decision aid (DA) or a personal risk profile (PRP) to patients on lipid-lowering or antihypertensive pharmacotherapy. Preliminary data on the clinical effectiveness of these interventions were collected.

Method
Patients were randomised to DA or PRP and evaluated before, two weeks after, and three months after a pharmacist consultation. No differences were observed between DA and PRP groups; results are reported for all patients combined. The quality of the patients' decision to initiate or maintain lifestyle change and/or pharmacological treatment was evaluated at baseline and two weeks after the consultation by measuring their knowledge, risk perception, decisional conflict and satisfaction with the decision process. The stage of change for various lifestyles and changes in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-risk factors were evaluated at baseline and at three months. Setting Ten community pharmacies.

Key findings
Twenty-six of 42 patients (62%) agreed to participate. Patients reported as excellent or very good the way the information was presented (79%), the amount of information (88%), and the usefulness of the tools (100%). The quality of the patients' decision at baseline was low; one-third of participants correctly estimated their CVD risks and laboratory results, and 54% had high decisional conflict. After the intervention, the satisfaction scores for role in decision making, amount of information provided and pharmacist's attitude were 69%, 81% and 85% respectively, and the proportion of participants with high decisional conflict declined to 25% (P = 0.02). CVD knowledge and risk perception did not change after the intervention. Improvements in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL)-C, total-C/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-C ratio, body mass index, and estimated 10-year CVD risk were observed.

Conclusion
Providing pharmacist consultation supplemented by a DA or a PRP in community pharmacies is feasible and relevant. However, it did not improve CVD knowledge or risk perception.
Exploring the dissonance between business and public health policy: pharmacy and the provision of opioid pharmacotherapies and clean needles in rural settings
Authors: Le Phuong-Phi , Hotham Elizabeth D 
Published: February 2006

Abstract

Objective
To ascertain, by interview of rural community pharmacists, how well public health policies relating to the provision of clean needles and opioid pharmacotherapies fit with the imperatives of business. Previous research investigating the provision of opioid pharmacotherapies focused predominantly on metropolitan community pharmacists and their experience with servicing methadone clients. Furthermore, there had been no exploration as to whether dissonance exists between community pharmacy business imperatives and the public health policy underpinning these programmes.

Method
Fifteen rural community pharmacists were interviewed in three focus groups. Experienced interviewer and researcher EH facilitated all three focus group interviews. The questioning path was developed following review of the literature. Thematic analysis identified common themes and issues within the qualitative data collected.

Setting
All three focus group interviews were conducted in rural South Australia.

Key findings
Professional obligation played a key role in motivating rural community pharmacists to be involved with service provision. Dissonance existed between the sense of fulfilment by participating in a major public health initiative and the recognition of the mainly negative financial impacts. Financial gain was limited, due to difficulty in fee collection, and inadequate remuneration. Other difficulties included lack of support from allied health services, and restricted access to training due to geographical isolation.

Conclusion
Some of the difficulties experienced in the servicing of opioid-dependent clients and its clash with business imperatives are universal and not specific to a rural environment. For the provision of opioid pharmacotherapy services to have fruitful business outcomes and simultaneously deliver effective services, appropriate remuneration and support programmes are needed. Future initiatives should aim at improving pharmacist communications with allied health services and prescribing doctors, as well as greater training opportunities to address problems associated with geographical isolation. Training on realistic outcomes of opioid treatment, the philosophy of treatment, and whether the role should include reducing client doses to assist clients become ‘drug free’ were identified as relevant training issues.
Delivering a home-based medication review, process measures from the HOMER randomised controlled trial
Authors: Holland Richard , Lenaghan Elizabeth , Smith Richard , Lipp Alistair , Christou Maria , Evans David , Harvey Ian 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjectivesThe HOme-based MEdication Review (HOMER) trial investigated whether home-based medication review by pharmacists could decrease hospital re-admission in older people. This trial demonstrated that the intervention increased admissions by 30% (P=0.009). This unexpected finding provoked significant interest. This paper describes the intervention in detail and the process measures recorded by review pharmacists, and investigates whether results differed according to pharmacist characteristics.Method437 patients were randomised to the intervention, which involved two pharmacist home visits within two and eight weeks of discharge, and 435 were randomised to usual care. An analysis was undertaken of the process measures and to determine whether admission rates differed within the intervention group according to the type of pharmacist performing the review. Setting Norfolk or Suffolk patients aged over 80 years discharged to their own home after an emergency admission (any cause), and taking two or more medications daily.Key findingsTwenty-two pharmacists participated. The majority (68%) were experienced community pharmacists (mean age = 42 years), 71% had a postgraduate qualification. Pharmacists identified adverse drug reactions in 33% of patients and made a mean of 1.6 recommendations/comments per visit undertaken. At least 35% of these were enacted. Pharmacists reduced inappropriate drug storage from 7% to 2% of visited patients by their second visit (P = 0.04), and reduced hoarding of unnecessary drugs from 40% of visited patients to 19% (P &lt; 0.001). Finally, the rate of admission within the intervention group did not vary significantly according to experience or type of pharmacist delivering the intervention.ConclusionThe HOMER intervention was conducted in a similar way to interventions in many other medication review studies. Given the HOMER trial's counter-intuitive findings it is clear that there is an urgent need to refine this intervention, identify the most suitable location for its delivery, and develop training that can ensure it is delivered to best effect.
Photocatalytic Activities of Rh-doped CaTiO3 under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Nishimoto Shunsuke , Matsuda Motohide , Miyake Michihiro 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
The effect of cation substitution into CaTiO3 has been investigated. Rh-doped CaTiO3 showed intense absorption in the visible light region (λ &gt; 420 nm), and was found to be a new photocatalyst for H2 evolution from an aqueous methanol solution under visible light irradiation.
Self-organization of Patterned CaCO3/Polymer Composite Films: Tuning of Their Morphologies by the Change of Molecular Weights of Acidic Polymers
Authors: Sakamoto Takeshi , Oichi Akira , Sugawara Ayae , Kato Takashi 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) thin films with periodic surface patterns are formed on thin film matrices of a polysaccharide derivative from a solution containing poly(acrylic acid) (PAA). The morphologies of the patterned films have been tuned by the change of molecular weights of the PAA.
Highly Ordered Pt-loaded CdS Nanowire Arrays for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production under Visible Light
Authors: Bao Ningzhong , Shen Liming , Takata Tsuyoshi , Lu Daling , Domen Kazunari 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
Highly ordered crystalline Pt-loaded CdS nanowire arrays were prepared using a hard template of mesoporous silica and show good photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production under visible-light irradiation.
Formation of Dented Poly(methyl methacrylate)/Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) Composite Particles in Seeded Soap-free Emulsion Copolymerization
Authors: Shi Shan , Hayami Hiroaki , Kuroda Shin-ichi , Kubota Hitoshi 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
Nonspherical composite particles having multiple dents on particle surface were synthesized for the first time by seeded soap-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene and divinylbenzene (crosslinker) on spherical, linear poly(methyl methacrylate) seed particles. The number and depth of the dents were controllable by varying polymerization formulation.
Hexagonal Columnar Superstructure Generated by Compact Liquid-crystalline Molecules Possessing Disk-shape, C3-Symmetry, and Ionic Bonding Sites
Authors: Katoh Masaki , Uehara Satoshi , Kohmoto Shigeo , Kishikawa Keiki 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
Small C3-symmetric supramolecules, 1:3 complexes of tri(2-aminoethyl)amine (1) and 3,4,5-trialkoxybenzoic acid (2c–2n, R = (CH2)n−1CH3, n = 5–16) generated a stable hexagonal columnar phase. The phase behaviors, stoichiometry, supramolecular structure, and superstructure were investigated.
Mapping Density Response in Maize: A Direct Approach for Testing Genotype and Treatment Interactions
Authors: Gonzalo Martin , Vyn Tony J , Holland James B , McIntyre Lauren M 
Published: February 2006

AbstractMaize yield improvement has been strongly linked to improvements in stress tolerance, particularly to increased interplant competition. As a result, modern hybrids are able to produce kernels at high plant population densities. Identification of the genetic factors responsible for density response in maize requires direct testing of interactions between genetic effects and density and evaluation of that response in multiple traits. In this article we take a broad view of the problem and use a general approach based upon mixed models to analyze data from eight segmental inbred lines in a B73 background and their crosses to the unrelated parent Mo17 (hybrids). We directly test for the interaction between treatment effects and genetic effects instead of the commonly used overlaying of results on a common map. Additionally, we demonstrate one way to handle heteroscedasticity of variances common in stress responses. We find that some SILs are consistently different from the recurrent parent regardless of the density, while others differ from the recurrent parent in one density level but not in the other. Thus, we find positive evidence for both main effects and interaction between genetic loci and density in cases where the approach of overlapping results fails to find significant results. Furthermore, our study clearly identifies segments that respond differently to density depending upon the inbreeding level (inbred/hybrid).
Using Genetic Markers to Directly Estimate Gene Flow and Reproductive Success Parameters in Plants on the Basis of Naturally Regenerated Seedlings
Authors: Burczyk J , Adams W T , Birkes D S , Chybicki I J 
Published: February 2006

AbstractEstimating seed and pollen gene flow in plants on the basis of samples of naturally regenerated seedlings can provide much needed information about “realized gene flow,” but seems to be one of the greatest challenges in plant population biology. Traditional parentage methods, because of their inability to discriminate between male and female parentage of seedlings, unless supported by uniparentally inherited markers, are not capable of precisely describing seed and pollen aspects of gene flow realized in seedlings. Here, we describe a maximum-likelihood method for modeling female and male parentage in a local plant population on the basis of genotypic data from naturally established seedlings and when the location and genotypes of all potential parents within the population are known. The method models female and male reproductive success of individuals as a function of factors likely to influence reproductive success (e.g., distance of seed dispersal, distance between mates, and relative fecundity–i.e., female and male selection gradients). The method is designed to account for levels of seed and pollen gene flow into the local population from unsampled adults; therefore, it is well suited to isolated, but also wide-spread natural populations, where extensive seed and pollen dispersal complicates traditional parentage analyses. Computer simulations were performed to evaluate the utility and robustness of the model and estimation procedure and to assess how the exclusion power of genetic markers (isozymes or microsatellites) affects the accuracy of the parameter estimation. In addition, the method was applied to genotypic data collected in Scots pine (isozymes) and oak (microsatellites) populations to obtain preliminary estimates of long-distance seed and pollen gene flow and the patterns of local seed and pollen dispersal in these species.
Two- and Three-Locus Tests for Linkage Analysis Using Recombinant Inbred Lines
Authors: Martin Olivier C , Hospital Frédéric 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
We consider fixed recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived either by selfing or by full-sib mating; when applicable, we also consider intermated recombinant inbreds (IRIs). First, we show that the usual estimate of recombination fraction based on RIL data is biased, and we provide an estimate where the major part of that bias is removed. Second, we derive simple formulas to compute the frequencies of genotypes at three loci in RILs. We describe the nonindependence of multiple recombinations arising in RIL recombination data even though there may be no interference in each meiosis. Finally, we give formulas for interference tests, gene mapping, or QTL detection in RIL populations.
A Simple and Robust Statistical Test for Detecting the Presence of Recombination
Authors: Bruen Trevor C , Philippe Hervé , Bryant David 
Published: February 2006

AbstractRecombination is a powerful evolutionary force that merges historically distinct genotypes. But the extent of recombination within many organisms is unknown, and even determining its presence within a set of homologous sequences is a difficult question. Here we develop a new statistic, Φw, that can be used to test for recombination. We show through simulation that our test can discriminate effectively between the presence and absence of recombination, even in diverse situations such as exponential growth (star-like topologies) and patterns of substitution rate correlation. A number of other tests, Max χ2, NSS, a coalescent-based likelihood permutation test (from LDHat), and correlation of linkage disequilibrium (both r2 and |D′|) with distance, all tend to underestimate the presence of recombination under strong population growth. Moreover, both Max χ2 and NSS falsely infer the presence of recombination under a simple model of mutation rate correlation. Results on empirical data show that our test can be used to detect recombination between closely as well as distantly related samples, regardless of the suspected rate of recombination. The results suggest that Φw is one of the best approaches to distinguish recurrent mutation from recombination in a wide variety of circumstances.
The Influence of Hitchhiking and Deleterious Mutation Upon Asexual Mutation Rates
Authors: Palmer Michael E , Lipsitch Marc 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe question of how natural selection affects asexual mutation rates has been considered since the 1930s, yet our understanding continues to deepen. The distribution of mutation rates observed in natural bacteria remains unexplained. It is well known that environmental constancy can favor minimal mutation rates. In contrast, environmental fluctuation (e.g., at period T) can create indirect selective pressure for stronger mutators: genes modifying mutation rate may “hitchhike” to greater frequency along with environmentally favored mutations they produce. This article extends a well-known model of Leigh to consider fitness genes with multiple mutable sites (call the number of such sites α). The phenotypic effect of such a gene is enabled if all sites are in a certain state and disabled otherwise. The effects of multiple deleterious loci are also included (call the number of such loci γ). The analysis calculates the indirect selective effects experienced by a gene inducing various mutation rates for given values of α, γ, and T. Finite-population simulations validate these results and let us examine the interaction of drift with hitchhiking selection. We close by commenting on the importance of other factors, such as spatiotemporal variation, and on the origin of variation in mutation rates.
Alignment of the Genomes ofBrachypodium distachyonand Temperate Cereals and Grasses Using Bacterial Artificial Chromosome Landing With Fluorescencein SituHybridization
Authors: Hasterok Robert , Marasek Agnieszka , Donnison Iain S , Armstead Ian , Thomas Ann , King Ian P , Wolny Elzbieta , Idziak Dominika , Draper John , Jenkins Glyn 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAs part of an initiative to develop Brachypodium distachyon as a genomic “bridge” species between rice and the temperate cereals and grasses, a BAC library has been constructed for the two diploid (2n = 2x = 10) genotypes, ABR1 and ABR5. The library consists of 9100 clones, with an approximate average insert size of 88 kb, representing 2.22 genome equivalents. To validate the usefulness of this species for comparative genomics and gene discovery in its larger genome relatives, the library was screened by PCR using primers designed on previously mapped rice and Poaceae sequences. Screening indicated a degree of synteny between these species and B. distachyon, which was confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization of the marker-selected BACs (BAC landing) to the 10 chromosome arms of the karyotype, with most of the BACs hybridizing as single loci on known chromosomes. Contiguous BACs colocalized on individual chromosomes, thereby confirming the conservation of genome synteny and proving that B. distachyon has utility as a temperate grass model species alternative to rice.
Clonal Interference and the Periodic Selection of New Beneficial Mutations in Escherichia coli
Authors: de Visser J Arjan G M , Rozen Daniel E 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
The conventional model of adaptation in asexual populations implies sequential fixation of new beneficial mutations via rare selective sweeps that purge all variation and preserve the clonal genotype. However, in large populations multiple beneficial mutations may co-occur, causing competition among them, a phenomenon called “clonal interference.” Clonal interference is thus expected to lead to longer fixation times and larger fitness effects of mutations that ultimately become fixed, as well as to a genetically more diverse population. Here, we study the significance of clonal interference in populations consisting of mixtures of differently marked wild-type and mutator strains of Escherichia coli that adapt to a minimal-glucose environment for 400 generations. We monitored marker frequencies during evolution and measured the competitive fitness of random clones from each marker state after evolution. The results demonstrate the presence of multiple beneficial mutations in these populations and slower and more erratic invasion of mutants than expected by the conventional model, showing the signature of clonal interference. We found that a consequence of clonal interference is that fitness estimates derived from invasion trajectories were less than half the magnitude of direct estimates from competition experiments, thus revealing fundamental problems with this fitness measure. These results force a reevaluation of the conventional model of periodic selection for asexual microbes.
Induced Paternal Effects Mimic Cytoplasmic Incompatibility in Drosophila
Authors: Clark Michael E , Heath Benjamin D , Anderson Cort L , Karr Timothy L 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
Wolbachia is an intracellular microbe found in a wide diversity of arthropod and filarial nematode hosts. In arthropods these common bacteria are reproductive parasites that manipulate central elements of their host's reproduction to increase their own maternal transmission in one of several ways. Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is one such manipulation where sperm are somehow modified in infected males and this modification must be rescued by the presence of the same bacterial strain in the egg for normal development to proceed. The molecular mechanisms involved in the expression of CI are unknown. Here we show that Wolbachia infection results in increased mRNA and protein expression of the Drosophila simulans nonmuscle myosin II gene zipper. Induced overexpression of zipper in Wolbachia-free transgenic D. melanogaster males results in paternal-effect lethality that mimics the fertilization defects associated with CI. Likewise, overexpression of the tumor suppressor gene, lethal giant larvae [l(2)gl], results in egg lethality and a CI phenotype. Stoichiometric levels of zipper and l(2)gl are required for proper segregation of cellular determinants during neuroblast stem cell division. Taken together these results form the basis of a working hypothesis whereby Wolbachia induces paternal effects in sperm by manipulating the expression of key regulators of cytoskeletal activity during spermatogenesis.
Multiple Events Are Responsible for an Insertion in a Paternally Inherited Mitochondrial Genome of the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis
Authors: Mizi Athanasia , Zouros Eleftherios , Rodakis George C 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
In a sperm-transmitted mtDNA of Mytilus galloprovincialis we found an insertion that is not present in the typical genome and whose origin can be explained by a sequence of three events: a tandem duplication, a nonhomologous recombination, and a deletion. Unless such events are extremely rare in this species, the identical gene arrangement of the two gender-specific genomes should imply strong selection for same gene order and size.