bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review of Interventions to Improve Prescribing
Authors: Ostini Remo , Hegney Desley , Jackson Claire , Williamson Margaret , Mackson Judith M , Gurman Karin , Hall Wayne , Tett Susan E 
Published: March 2009

Objective: To update 2 comprehensive reviews of systematic reviews on prescribing interventions and identify the latest evidence about the effectiveness of the interventions. Data Sources: Systematic searches for English-language reports of experimental and quasi-experimental research were conducted in PubMed(1951–May 2007). EMBASE (1974–March 2008), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–March 2008), and 11 other bibliographic databases of medical, social science, and business research. Following an initial title screening process and after selecting 6 specific intervention categories (identified from the previous reviews) in community settings, 2 reviewers independently assessed abstracts and then full studies for relevance and quality and extracted relevant data using formal assessment and data extraction tools. Results were then methodically incorporated into the findings of the 2 earlier reviews of systematic reviews. Data Selection And Synthesis: Twenty-nine of 26,314 articles reviewed were assessed to be of relevant, high-quality research. Audit and feedback, together with educational outreach visits, were the focus of the majority of recent, high-quality research into prescribing interventions. These interventions were also the most effective in improving prescribing practice. A smaller number of studies included a patient-mediated intervention; this intervention was not consistently effective. There is insufficient recent research into manual reminders to confidently update earlier reviews and there remains insufficient evidence to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of local consensus processes or multidisciplinary teams. Conclusions: Educational outreach as well as audit and feedback continue to dominate research into prescribing interventions. These 2 prescribing interventions also most consistently show positive results. Much less research is conducted into other types of interventions and there is still very little effort to systematically test why interventions do or do not work.
Micafungin plus Fluconazole in an Infected Knee with Retained Hardware due to Candida albicans
Authors: Bland Christopher M , Thomas Sanil 
Published: March 2009

Objective: To describe the use of micafungin and fluconazole in the management of a fungal prosthetic joint infection caused by Candida albicans. Case Summary: A 55-year-old female who had undergone total left knee arthroplasty due to rheumatoid arthritis presented with symptoms of a left knee infection. Intravenous vancomycin 1 g every 12 hours and intravenous ampicillin/sulbactam 1.5 g every 6 hours were initiated. Arthrocentesis produced cloudy synovial fluid with a white blood cell (WBC) count of 5.995 × 103/μL. C-reactive protein (CRP) was 19.8 mg/dL and erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR) was greater than 120 mm/h. Gram stain was negative, but intraoperative cultures grew C. albicans. Four days later the patient's condition worsened and repeat arthrocentesis showed WBC count of 16.8 × 103/μL with budding yeast in the synovial fluid. Antibiotics were stopped and liposomal amphotericin B 5 mg/kg once daily was started but was stopped after a few doses due to renal failure. Intravenous micafungin 100 mg daily was initiated; intravenous fluconazole 400 mg daily was added 2 days later and subsequently changed to oral fluconazole after 2 days of therapy. The patient received combination micafungin/fluconazole therapy for 8 weeks. After approximately 8 weeks of therapy, the CRP level and ESR had decreased from 19.8 to 7.1 mg/dL and greater than 120 to 81 mm/h, respectively. The patient's pain and range of motion in her knee had returned to baseline levels at last follow-up after the total knee arthroplasty. After 8 weeks of combination therapy, micafungin was discontinued but oral fluconazole was continued; approximately 8 weeks later the patient relapsed, requiring removal of the prosthetic knee hardware. Discussion: Fungal prosthetic joint infections are rare, but definitive data regarding appropriate treatment are lacking. Echinocandins are an attractive treatment option due to their enhanced biofilm penetration. In our patient, treatment with micafungin plus fluconazole for 8 weeks followed by fluconazole monotherapy was associated with an initial good outcome in the treatment of a C. albicans prosthetic knee infection with retained hardware. This was, to our knowledge, the first case using micafungin in a prosthetic joint infection. Conclusions: Although micafungin plus fluconazole showed positive results in our patient, more data are needed regarding combination therapy for fungal prosthetic joint infections.
Comparison of Inhaled Corticosteroids: An Update
Authors: Kelly H William 
Published: March 2009

Objective: To review the basis for the estimated comparative daily dosages of inhaled corticosteroids for children and adults that are presented in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Expert Panel Report 3; in addition, the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic basis for potential clinical differences among inhaled corticosteroids is discussed. Data Sources: A complete MEDLINE search was conducted of human studies of asthma pharmacotherapy published between January 1, 2001, and March 15, 2006, followed by a PubMed search up until August 2008, using ciclesonide, inhaled corticosteroids, and pharmacokinetics as key words. Product information on each inhaled corticosteroid was also included. Study Selection And Data Extraction: Comparative clinical trials of inhaled corticosteroids and systematic reviews for efficacy comparisons were evaluated. Extensive literature reviews, meta-analyses, and selected clinical studies that illustrate or represent specific points of view were selected. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data extracted from previously published reviews and specific studies were included. Data Synthesis: Pharmacodynamic characteristics (glucocorticoid receptor binding) and lung delivery determine the relative clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties (oral bioavailability, lung retention, systemic clearance) and determine comparative therapeutic index of the inhaled corticosteroids. Secondary pharmacokinetic differences (intracellular fatty acid esterification, high serum protein binding) that have been posited to improve duration of action and/or therapeutic index are unproven, and current comparative clinical trials do not support the hypotheses that they provide an advantage. Ultrafine particle meter-dose inhalers (MDIs) have not demonstrated superior asthma control or improved safety over older MDIs. All of the inhaled corticosteroids demonstrate efficacy with once-daily dosing, and all are more effective when dosed twice daily. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that all of the inhaled corticosteroids have sufficient therapeutic indexes to provide similar efficacy and safety in low to medium doses. Whether or not some of the newer inhaled corticosteroids offer any advantages at higher doses has yet to be determined.
Monitoring Biofilm Formation in Power Plant Environments
Authors: Licina GJ , Nekoksa G 
Published: March 2009

Power plants have experienced severe general corrosion, pitting, under deposit corrosion, and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in cooling water systems, resulting in decreased plant availability and significantly increased operations and maintenance costs. MIC has been a particularly difficult problem since corrosion resistant alloys in relatively benign environments have failed as a result of microbiological influences in short times. Copper base alloys, carbon steels and stainless steels have all been susceptible. In a number of instances, replacement of piping and heat exchangers has been required to alleviate corrosion-related problems.
Monitoring is a key element to improved corrosion control in cooling water systems. On-line methods provide evaluations of corrosion rates in real time and are sensitive to localized corrosion. Electrochemical methods of corrosion measurement are readily automated, both for acquisition of corrosion data and for process control. An electrochemical probe for on-line monitoring of biofilm activity has been shown to provide an early warning of biofilm formation and incipient MIC in fresh and saline waters.
Critical Experimental Data on the Snoek-Köster Relaxation and Their Explanation by the Coupling Model
Authors: Magalas LB , Ngai KL 
Published: March 2009

This paper is devoted to the Snoek-Köster (SK) relaxation in deformed α-iron containing carbon as foreign interstital atoms (FIAs). In this study crucial experimental data on SK relaxation in deformed ultra-high purity α-iron doped with carbon at different concentration levels will be presented. The experimental results include the relaxation enthalpy, HSK, the relaxation time, τSK, the shape of the SK peak and their dependences on carbon concentration, deformation temperature as well as the amount of plastic deformation will be used to critically test theoretical models. In fact, the interpretation of activation enthalpy is still the main unresolved issue in the studies of SK relaxation. Schoeck has recently called into attention that the essential question every theory of SK relaxation must answer is why the HSK is larger than the diffusion enthalpy of the corresponding interstitial in the lattice. Therefore we will focus our discussion on the problem of relaxation enthalpy and relaxation time of SK peak. From an analysis of the experimental data we find that the activation enthalpy of the carbon SK peak in α-iron actually varies over a wide range, decreasing towards the activation enthalpy, HS, of the Snoek relaxation with decreasing C concentration. This, together with an observed influence of the deformation temperature on the relaxation strength of the SK peak raise serious question on the validity of the Seeger model based on kink pair formation (KPF) mechanism. Schoeck earlier had also ruled out the KPF mechanism by calling into attention the fact that some measurements found the strength of the SK relaxation far exceeds that predicted by the KPF mechanism. Therefore the hypothesis that only screw dislocations are responsible for SK relaxation is not confirmed in this study.
In our theoretical approach presented here, the Shoeck model with the dragging mechanism is refined so as to take into account mutual interactions between FIAs possessing a long-range mobility in the Cottrell cloud surrounding dislocations. The cooperative migration of the FIAs caused by the mutual interactions between them with the FIAs locked in time-dependent strain field of dislocations subjected to an external, dynamical mechanical field is considered to be the basic “physical picture” of SK relaxation in our theoretical approach. We shall work out the consequence of this physical picture by using the coupling model to describe the cooperative migration of the FIAs and incorporating this into the dragging mechanism of Schoeck. The results can explain quantitatively the critical experimental facts that HSK increases over a wide range from 0.95 &lt; HSK &lt; 2.12 eV with carbon concentration and the corresponding preexponential factors. The relaxation strength is the same as the string model of Schoeck which is in agreement with experiment.
Traction Measurement on Natural Turf
Authors: McNitt AS , Waddington DV , Middour RO 
Published: March 2009

An apparatus was developed and field tested to measure traction. The apparatus consists of a framework that supports a leg and foot assembly that can be used to measure both rotational and linear traction using different footwear under various loading weights. The force required to cause foot movement is measured at various degrees of rotation or linear distance traveled. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of turfgrass and soil conditions on traction of turf areas. Specifically, the influences of species, cutting height, shoe type, and loading weight on traction were determined using this apparatus.Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass provided the highest traction values while perennial ryegrass and creeping red fescue provided the lowest. Higher linear traction values occurred with lower cutting heights. As vertical force increased, traction increased. A studded shoe provided higher linear traction than a molded shoe across all species and cutting heights, while a molded shoe proved higher rotational traction under some conditions.
Tribology of Hydraulic Pumps
Authors: Yamaguchi A 
Published: March 2009

To obtain much higher performance than that of alternative power transmission systems, hydraulic systems have been continuously evolving to use “high-pressure”. Adoption of positive displacement pumps and motors is based on this reason. Therefore, tribology is a key technology for hydraulic pumps and motors to obtain excellent performance and durability.
In this paper the following topics are investigated: 1. The special feature of tribology of hydraulic pumps and motors. 2. Indication of the important bearing/sealing parts in piston pumps and effects of the frictional force and leakage flow to performance. 3. The methods to break through the tribological limitation of hydraulic equipment. 4. Optimum design of the bearing/sealing parts used in the fluid to mixed lubrication regions.
Vickers' 35VQ25 Pump Test
Authors: Johnson HT , Lewis TI 
Published: March 2009

In the late 1970's, Vickers, Inc., recognized that their methods of establishing petroleum based fluid recommendations had become inadequate. They provided poor correlation with the field results in the higher pressure and higher speed pumps that had been developed for the mobile hydraulics market. A test procedure based on the high performance VQ product line that had the most severe fluid antiwear requirements was therefore developed.
This paper discusses the resulting 35VQ25 vane pump test; summarizes the rationale used to select test parameters; and presents an interpretation of results with various fluids. The influence of test parameters and variations in production pump components on the overall results are outlined.
Although not developed as a replacement for existing industry standards, the test procedure has become widely used within our industry over the last 15 years. As a result, this paper will attempt to compare the pros and cons of this procedure to other alternatives such as ASTM D-2882.
Pump Tests for Hydraulic Fluid Wear Qualification
Authors: Tessmann RK , Heer DJ 
Published: March 2009

Modern hydraulic systems are operating at higher pressures and higher temperatures than ever before. In addition, the life and reliability of the hydraulic components and hence the hydraulic system is becoming more and more dependent upon the characteristics of the circulating fluid in the system. The hydraulic component which normally suffers most when the correct fluid is not used in the system is the hydraulic pump. Three different types of hydraulic pumps are widely used in hydraulic systems. Vane pumps have been the dominant type of pump for hydraulic systems. Gear pumps have replaced vane pumps in many applications. Piston pumps are rapidly gaining popularity. Therefore, the pump manufacturers are conducting tests to qualify fluids for use with their pumps and the fluids formulators are conducting tests to show that their formulations are compatible with hydraulic components. Unfortunately, the tests most widely used are either not industry standards or do not address problems encountered with some hydraulic pumps.
This paper presents an overview of the pump tests which are currently available or which are specific to certain hydraulic pumps. Since there are few standard pump tests, many companies have devised their own tests to be confident of the fluids which they qualify. Additional concepts in pump testing are proposed and discussed.
Importance of Mechanical Testing of Hydraulic Fluids
Authors: Reichel J 
Published: March 2009

Anti-wear properties of hydraulic fluids are important because hydraulic pump and motor wear is costly. Hydraulic fluid performance specifications represent minimum requirements. International hydraulic fluid performance standards are being developed by ISO/TC28/SC4 committee as draft (ISO DIS 11158 “Specifications for Mineral Oil Hydraulic Fluids”). Performance specifications for non-mineral oil hydraulic fluids are also being developed.
Typically, both the user and fluid manufacturer have insufficient information relating to the anti-wear properties of a new fluid to be used in hydraulic equipment, such as axial piston pumps, vane pumps or radial piston motors. Therefore, pump lubrication and operation requirements, preferably pre-existing in pump manufacturer's specifications, must be determined. The required fluid lubrication properties may be determined by either laboratory pump tests or by a field trial, often at the expense of the customer. More preferably, the lubrication properties of the hydraulic fluid should be determined under mechanical conditions equivalent to field practice. In this paper, the use of both the vane pump test and the FZG Gear Test to predetermine the “recommended“ hydraulic fluid lubrication performance will be discussed. In this way, fluid performance may be determined at significantly lower cost than more expensive large scale hydraulic pump and motor tests which slower and more energy consuming.
Characterization of Solid Products of Corrosion Generated by Modular-Head Femoral Stems of Different Designs and Materials
Authors: Urban RM , Jacobs JJ , Gilbert JL , Rice SB , Jasty M , Bragdon CR , Galante JO 
Published: March 2009

This paper reviews the microanalytic and histopathologic findings from studies reported previously by our laboratory describing the nature and significance of solid products of corrosion generated at modular junctions of femoral components for hip replacement. A total of twenty-five retrieved, corroded modular junctions with surrounding tissues were examined from a variety of component designs and material combinations, including head/neck couples of CoCr/CoCr, CoCr/Ti6Al4V, and Al2O3/CoCr. The products were examined using electron microprobe with energy dispersive x-ray analysis, x-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy.
The products of corrosion identified at the modular junctions of all of the various prostheses examined were similar regardless of the implant design or materials coupled, even when a ceramic head was employed. The most prevalent corrosion product was characterized as an amorphous chromium orthophosphate hydrate-rich material. Particles of this material were identified throughout the periprosthetic tissues of most of the cases studied and at the polyethylene bearing surface of several cases. The multitude of particles generated by fragmentation of the corrosion products and the finding that they migrate to sites distant from their origin are of concern because of their potential to increase the production of polyethylene wear debris by a three-body wear mechanism and their direct participation in particle-induced, macrophage-mediated osteolysis.
Corrosion Testing of Modular Hip Implants
Authors: Goldberg JR , Buckley CA , Jacobs JJ , Gilbert JL 
Published: March 2009

Flexibility in sizing, lower inventory requirements, and the ability to choose materials with optimum physical properties for each component have made modular hip implants the design of choice for most orthopedic surgeons. However, the presence of surface asperities and angular mismatch between the head and neck components can result in the formation of a crevice between the taper surfaces of the assembled couple. This crevice may be large enough to allow fluid ingress and fretting to occur which can lead to crevice and fretting corrosion.
This paper describes several test methods used to duplicate the fretting behavior of modular taper components and determine the electrochemical changes that occur as the result of fretting corrosion. Mixed and similar metal modular taper junctions were tested in phosphate buffered sahne solution with and without the application of a cyclic load. Fretting currents, open circuit potential (OCP), and pH, pO2, and [Cl-] of solution trapped inside the spaces between the head and neck components were measured. Metal ion concentrations in fluid trapped inside similar metal taper junctions were measured. The effects of load magnitude on OCP and fretting currents were determined. Test components and trapped solution were inspected and analyzed for signs of corrosion. Results of testing support a hypothesis of mechanically assisted crevice corrosion and are presented.
Use of Oxygen-Enriched Mixtures in Recreational SCUBA Diving -- Is the Public Being Informed of the Risks?
Authors: Gabel H , Janoff D 
Published: March 2009

The use of enriched air mixtures, often called nitrox, has been getting more and more attention in the recreational diving community. This is especially true since major recreational diving organizations are starting to certify non-technical divers for oxygen-enriched nitrox diving. The decompression physiologists have explained both the risks and benefits of oxygen-enriched nitrox use in the diving literature. However, there are other risks that divers need to know about when using oxygen-enriched air. There is a belief in some groups in the diving community that any mixture less than 40 percent oxygen can be handled in the same manner as high pressure air.
This approach would include the use of materials are that are not very oxygen compatible, and little or no cleaning or contamination control. In this article, the authors would like to assert that this approach carries with it an unacceptable risk to the users of this equipment. To support this position, industry and professional society guidelines from ASTM, Compressed Gas Association, and The National Fire Protection Association are cited, as well as the results of research and testing. Recreational divers need to understand that as they increase the oxygen concentration in the mix, they also increase the chances of having a fire incident in their equipment. The recommendation is made that everyone involved in the design, use, servicing and refilling of oxygen-enriched diving gases must be aware of the additional hazards involved. This awareness will empower divers with the knowledge to make more informed choices about their equipment, and how it is maintained.