bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethical challenges in pharmacoepidemiological research in Colombia
Authors: Dennis Rodolfo J. , Lozano Juan M. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPurposeTo illustrate and to discuss some ethical challenges encountered during pharmacoepidemiological research in a developing country (Colombia), as well as the decisions made to solve them.MethodsThe authors in Bogotá describe three recent studies. The first one collected data from clinical records to evaluate the prescriptions patterns in recently graduated physicians. The second used an interrupted time series design, with a set of observations prior and after a combined intervention, to assess whether it improved the quality of intravenous antibiotic prescribing practices in a university‐based hospital. The third evaluated pharmacists' advice in childhood acute respiratory infection and acute diarrhea through a community survey, followed by focus groups and in‐depth interviews of key informers.ResultsThe ethical issues raised by these studies include the need for obtaining informed consent from participants (physicians in Study 1 and drug sellers in Study 3), deciding when to intervene in case of gross prescription mistakes detected during the collection of data as part of the time series assessment (Study 2), the use of simulated clients to collect data in the community survey, and the use of study resources to buy, in some cases, useless medications (Study 3).ConclusionAlthough ethical challenges in pharmacoepidemiology in non‐industrialized countries like Colombia may be different from those in developed nations, ethical principles that guide research remain the same. The processes to safeguard these principles in Colombia for virtually all research are also universal in nature, and include the ethical review committee, subject privacy, informed consent, and disclosure of funding sources. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacoepidemiology—an Irish perspective
Authors: Williams D. , Feely J. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe Irish healthcare system is a mixture of free, state‐supported and private medicine. The state‐supported General Medical Services (GMS) scheme maintains a large prescription database, which has been used to conduct pharmacoepidemiological studies in Ireland. The dataset is anonomysed thus maintaining patient and prescriber confidentiality. Three recent studies using this data are described, two of which outline the effect of regulatory advice and the media on prescribing patterns and one which describes the development of an index of prescribing quality which may be applied to prescription data. The GMS prescription database is presently being complemented by a database for some 0.7 million people who seek re‐imbursement for prescriptions from individuals or families in excess of £42 per month which together will have an important role for the continued development of pharmacoepidemiology in Ireland. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ethical issues related to retrospective drug utilization studies in South Africa
Authors: Truter Ilse 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of the manuscript is to discuss the ethical issues related to pharmacoepidemiological research in South Africa, with specific emphasis on three recently performed retrospective drug utilization studies.MethodsEthical considerations relating to three retrospective drug utilization studies on hyperlipidaemia, diabetes and tricyclic antidepressants are discussed.ResultsComputerized medication records were obtained from three different organizations after formal proposals had been submitted. The information contained in the data sets varied, and in some instances, a fair amount of manual coding had to be performed to make the data useable for research purposes. The research was not sponsored by the private pharmaceutical sector and this minimized the potential for any bias in the studies. Data privacy and confidentiality were maintained at all times. No patient could be traced, and it was also not possible to determine which medical practitioners were involved in the prescribing of the drugs.ConclusionsRetrospective drug utilization studies are a relatively easy, inexpensive and uncomplicated method to comment on the prescribing of drugs in large patient populations provided that ethical principles related to confidentiality and data privacy are adhered to. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How do pharmaceutical companies handle consumer adverse drug reaction reports? An overview based on a survey of French drug safety managers and officers
Authors: Fleuranceau‐Morel P. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractIt is surprising to see how consumer Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reports have been continuously increasing for the last few years in Europe. This probably results from the influence of United States (US) market where the patients feels justified in telephoning the pharmaceutical companies directly with queries regarding their treatment. The growing number of alternative sources of information (e.g. health and popular magazines, spots on radio and TV etc.) to which a consumer is exposed has added to this growth too. The changing relationship between patients and doctors may also contribute to this phenomenon. It is then interesting to evaluate the way pharmaceutical companies currently deal with consumer ADR reports. The management of consumer ADR reporting was investigated by means of a questionnaire sent to 46 French drug safety managers and drug safety officers (DSOs) of multinational pharmaceutical companies. The analysis of the survey stressed the fact that pharmaceutical companies should be prepared to face up to an increase in the number of consumer ADR reports. It clearly appears that the consumers who telephone to register side‐effects should be forwarded to a trained DSO with medical or pharmaceutical background and the communication skills acquired through specific training. This person should also be able to release adequate product information validated by his/her own company. The influence of the US market seems to be changing the way pharmaceutical companies deal with consumer ADR reports. Nowadays, these reports are entered into a drug safety database by most of the companies without previously having contacted the patient's general practitioner (GP) or specialist for medical confirmation. Lastly, the drug safety managers and DSOs consulted have divided opinions about the usefulness of call centres and e‐mails as tools for ADR reporting. But both tools are globally rejected by the pharmaceutical companies as a reliable means of reporting. As stated in this article, the reporting of ADRs via e‐mail would cause real problems for the drug safety units. Finally, they consider that telephone call centres should be restricted to a specific communication problem such as crisis management or Dear Dr letters. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk of irritable bowel syndrome among asthma patients
Authors: Huerta Consuelo , Rodríguez Luis Alberto García , Wallander Mary‐Ann , Johansson Saga 
Published: August 2002

AbstractBackgroundAn association between Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and bronchial hyper‐responsiveness has been suggested. Only a few studies have specifically studied the association between IBS and asthma.AimTo estimate the incidence rate of IBS among asthma patients and to compare it with the general population. We also examined the association between use of asthma drugs, specifically corticosteroids, and IBS.MethodsPopulation‐based cohort study using the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) in the UK. The cohort comprised a random sample of 50 000 asthma patients aged 10–79 years and a similar number of sex‐and age‐matched individuals free of asthma and identified from the source population. A nested case–control analysis was performed within the asthma cohort to examine the association between asthma drugs and IBS.ResultsThe incidence rate of IBS in the asthma cohort was 2.5 per 1000 persons‐years and 2.0 in the general population. The relative risk (RR) was 1.3 (95% CI 1.1–1.5). A medical history of neurotic and psychologic disorders, pain‐related diseases and gastroenteritis were all associated with the occurrence of IBS. In the asthma cohort, current users of oral steroids presented a RR of 0.5 (95% CI 0.2–1.2) for developing IBS. The risk estimate was similar in short‐and long‐term users of steroids.ConclusionsWe found a slightly increased risk of IBS in asthma patients compared to the general population and that the risk of IBS was reduced by use of oral steroids in asthma patients. Additional studies in the general population are necessary in order to confirm whether use of corticosteroids irrespective of asthma has a protective effect on the risk of IBS. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automated support for pharmacovigilance: a proposed system
Authors: Bright Roselie A. , Nelson Robert C. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractGovernments, manufacturers, and other entities are interested in adverse event surveillance of marketed medical products. FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research redesigned the post‐marketing adverse reaction surveillance process to use the advantages of new technology. As part of this effort, a ‘Pharmacovigilance Working Group’ designed a new strategy for the review and analyses of adverse event reports received by FDA. It created requirements which divided signal detection into five tiers: (1) Single ‘urgent’ reports would be sent to reviewers' workstations nightly for immediate attention. Reviewers would be able to customize definitions of ‘urgent’ (events that should not wait for aggregate review). (2) Single urgent reports would be placed in a context matrix containing historical counts of similar events to aid in initial interpretation. (3) In this first level of aggregate review, graphical displays would highlight patterns within all the reports, both urgent and non‐urgent, and (4) periodic drug‐specific tabled‐based reports would display the newly received reports across a pre‐defined variety of displays. These four tiers would produce passive and criteria‐based results which would be presented to safety reviewers' electronic workstations. (5) Active query capabilities (routine, such as age, sex, and year distributions, as well as ad hoc) would be available for exploring alerted issues. The historical database would be migrated into the new format. All historical and new reaction data would be coded with the new MedDRA (Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities) scheme. The strategy was to design a full data capture system which effectively exploits current computing advances and technical performance to automate many aspects of initial adverse event review, supporting more efficient and effective clinical assessment of safety signals. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hyponatremia and syndrome of inappropriate anti‐diuretic hormone reported with the use of Vincristine®: an over‐representation of Asians?
Authors: Hammond Isaac W. , Ferguson Jeffrey A. , Kwong Kenneth , Muniz Edmundo , Delisle Frank 
Published: August 2002

AbstractPurposeThis retrospective study used a pharmaceutical company's global safety database to determine the reporting rate of hyponatremia and/or syndrome of inappropriate secretion of anti‐diuretic hormone (SIADH) among vincristine‐treated patients and to explore the possibility of at‐risk population subgroups.MethodWe searched the Eli Lilly and Company's computerized adverse event database for all reported cases of hyponatremia and/or SIADH as of 1 November 1999 that had been reported during the use of vincristine.ResultsA total of 76 cases of hyponatremia and/or SIADH associated with vincristine use were identified. The overall reporting rate was estimated to be 1.3/100 000 treated patients. The average age of patients was 35.6 ± 28.3 years, and 62% were males. Approximately 75% of the patients were receiving treatment for leukemia or lymphoma. Among the 39 reports that included information on race, the racial distribution was: 1 Black, 3 Caucasian, and 35 Asian.ConclusionOur data suggest that Asian patients may be at increased risk of hyponatremia and/or SIADH associated with vincristine use. Although the overall reported rate of SIADH associated with vincristine is very low, physicians caring for Asian oncology patients should be aware of this potential serious but reversible adverse event. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Part 1. Qualitative comparison between polymer and monomer model compound sulfonation
Authors: Daoust D , Devaux J , Godard P 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThe sulfonation kinetics of fluorine ended poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) in solution in 95.9% and 96.8% concentrated sulfuric acid was studied with the help of a model compound representative of the PEEK chain repeat unit. The reaction rate of the model compound sulfonation was found to be first order with respect to the aromatic ring to be sulfonated. Consequently, PEEK kinetic data were treated following a first order with respect to the unsulfonated repeat unit concentration. Two rate‐slowing effects were detected. They were attributed to ‘long range’ electronic effects resulting from the inductive nature of the fluorine atom, and from the electron‐withdrawing character of the grafted sulfonic acid group.© 2001 Society of Chemical Industry
Synthesis and properties of poly(amide–imide)s based on N,N′‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4′‐oxydiphthalimide, p‐aminobenzoic acid and various aromatic diamines
Authors: Yang Chin‐Ping , Chen Ruei‐Shin , Hung Kuei‐Shi , Woo Eamor M 
Published: August 2002

AbstractA new diimide–diacid monomer, N,N′‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4′‐oxydiphthalimide (I), was prepared by azeotropic condensation of 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) and p‐aminobenzoic acid (p‐ABA) at a 1:2 molar ratio in a polar solvent mixed with toluene. A series of poly(amide–imide)s (PAI, IIIa–m) was synthesized from the diimide–diacid I (or I′, diacid chloride of I) and various aromatic diamines by direct polycondensation (or low temperature polycondensation) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. It was found that only IIIk–m having a meta‐structure at two terminals of the diamine could afford good quality, creasable films by solution‐casting; other PAIs III using diamine with para‐linkage at terminals were insoluble and crystalline; though IIIg–i contained the soluble group of the diamine moieties, their solvent‐cast films were brittle. In order to improve their to solubility and film quality, copoly(amide–imide)s (Co‐PAIs) based on I and mixtures of p‐ABA and aromatic diamines were synthesized. When on equimolar of p‐ABA (m = 1) was mixed, most of Co‐PAIs IV had improved solubility and high inherent viscosities in the range 0.9–1.5 dl g−1; however, their films were still brittle. With m = 3, series V was obtained, and all members exhibited high toughness. The solubility, film‐forming ability, crystallinity, and thermal properties of the resultant poly(amide–imide)s were investigated.© 2002 Society of Chemical Industry
Procedure for determining the uncertainty of photovoltaic module outdoor electrical performance‡
Authors: Whitfield K. , Osterwald C. R. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractThis paper sets forth an uncertainty estimation procedure for the measurement of photovoltaic (PV) electrical performance using natural sunlight and calibrated secondary reference cells. The actual test irradiance should be restricted to values between 800 and 1000 W/m2in order to assume that maximum power varies linearly with irradiance. Only the uncertainty of maximum power at standard test conditions (STC), i.e., 1000 W/m2plane‐of‐array irradiance and 25°C cell temperature, is developed in its entirety. The basic uncertainty analysis principles developed herein, however, can be applied to any electrical variable of interest (e.g., short‐circuit current, open‐circuit voltage and fill factor). Although the equations presented appear cumbersome, they are easily implemented into a computer spreadsheet. Examples of uncertainty analyses are also presented herein to make the concepts more concrete. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Buried contact solar cells on textured tricrystalline CZ‐silicon wafers
Authors: Kim D. S. , Lee K. Y. , Kim J. , Lee S. H. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractBuried contact solar cells (BCSC) have been fabricated on boron‐doped p‐type tricrystalline Czochralski silicon wafers (Tri‐Si) and the output characteristics were compared with those of multi‐crystalline silicon wafers and single crystalline Czochralski wafers. Optical properties and microstructures after texturing Tri‐Si with [110] growth axis in KOH solution have been studied. The textured surface of Tri‐Si has the shape of a V‐groove, with an angle of 110° between two (111) planes. Computer simulations show that a V‐groove composed of (111) planes after texturing decreases reflectance significantly when cells are encapsulated with ethylenevinylacetate (EVA). The efficiency of BCSC fabricated on Tri‐Si was measured as 15.05% before encapsulation. An increase of 2.7 mA/cm2in short‐circuit current density is expected, due to internal reflection of light at the air/glass interface when the textured Tri‐Si cells are encapsulated. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of leakage currents in photovoltaic modules under high‐voltage bias in the field
Authors: del Cueto J. A. , McMahon T. J. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractAs photovoltaic modules become more widely disseminated in high‐power or utility‐power applications, their ability to withstand high voltage relative to ground becomes a reliability issue. Long‐term effects of exposure to high‐voltage stress in the field are investigated. Starting in early 1998, four commercially available PV modules inaugurated the high‐voltage stress test at the Outdoor Test Facility at NREL. Modules representing both crystalline and amorphous silicon technologies were deployed on the high‐voltage stress testbed located outdoors in order to simulate and assess operation in high‐voltage array configurations. They were biased at positive and negative polarity 600 V at all times—except for 1 min at noon each day, when they were subjected to 2200 V bias—and their leakage currents to ground were monitored continuously. The ubiquitous effects of moisture on leakage conductance are analyzed. Module leakage conductance is found to be thermally activated with a characteristic energy that depends on relative humidity. Separate current paths likely responsible for leakage conductance are analyzed and identified at opposite ends of the relative humidity range. Leakage current data are integrated against time to arrive at accumulated charge due to long‐term, high‐voltage exposure. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CIS‐based thin‐film photovoltaic modules: potential and prospects
Authors: Dimmler B. , Powalla M. , Schock H.W. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractCu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS), one of the main candidates of thin film absorber materials, is considered to have the highest potential with respect to module quality. To achieve very large capacities further developments of the manufacturing technologies are still necessary. On the basis of the fundamental work of IPE the ZSW has developed the technologies for all process steps on a module size of 30 × 30 cm2 on glass substrates. Average module efficiencies are well above 10%, with a tendency to improve efficiency to a maximum of 12.7% on a 30 × 30 cm2 module area. The next step of scaling up has started as a joint venture of ZSW, the Würth group and the EnBW AG, forming Würth Solar GmbH & Co. KG. The objective of the company is to commercialise CuIn Se2 (CIS) technology and PV products. Operation of a pilot line with final nominal capacity of about 1 MWp/yr was began in spring 2000. After transfer of ZSW baseline technology and successful optimisation of the pilot line, the first modules of 60 × 120 cm2 area, with efficiencies exceeding 8%, have been fabricated. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Progress on 15‐MW single‐thread silicon‐film™ solar cell manufacturing systems
Authors: Culik J. S. , Goncharovsky I. S. , Rand J. A. , Barnett A. M. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractAdvances in solar cell manufacturing systems for large‐area Silicon‐Film™ polycrystalline silicon sheet material are reviewed. Recent progress in continuous rapid thermal junction diffusion and cassetteless wet chemical processing is discussed. A single Silicon‐Film™ sheet generation system operating at 3.1 m/min now has a capacity of 15 MW of silicon sheet per year. This sheet generation system is used as the basis for an advanced single‐thread production line design for manufacturing the next generation of Silicon‐Film™ solar cells whose area is nominally 400 cm2. These solar cells are being used to design large‐area solar modules that can produce up to 220 W of power. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Amorphous silicon PV module manufacturing at BP solar
Authors: Arya R. R. , Carlson D. E. 
Published: August 2002

AbstractBP Solar started manufacturing small‐area, single‐junction amorphous silicon solar cells for consumer applications in 1984, began producing 1 ft2(∼0.09 m2) single‐junction modules for terrestrial applications in 1986 and initiated the production of 8.6 ft2(∼0.77 m2) tandem modules for both remote and building‐integrated applications in 1997. Over the last few years, the technical and manufacturing personnel at the BP Solar TF1 plant in Toano, Virginia have made tremendous progress in ramping up the plant to where it is now producing amorphous silicon tandem modules with electrical yields in excess of 95% and at a run rate of more than 7 MWpper year. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implications of behavioral momentum and academic achievement for students with behavior disorders: Theory, application, and practice
Authors: Belfiore Phillip J. , Lee David L. , Scheeler Mary Catherine , Klein Danielle 
Published: August 2002

AbstractIn this article, we explore the disconnect between applied behavioral research and classroom‐managed applied behavioral research. Much has been written about the gap between experimental (basic) and applied research, but for the practitioner in the field the true gap lies between tightly controlled, externally supported applied research and teacher‐managed, in‐house supported applied research. To this end, the purpose of this paper is twofold. First, a model continuum is presented to guide researchers through the stages of theory development, basic research, applied research, and applied action research. Second, the theory and application of behavioral momentum is used to illustrate how this continuum can function within an applied behavioral framework. The results of this study suggest that an intervention developed from the theory of behavioral momentum can be implemented within the context of a classroom and affect positive change in academic compliance among children identified for learning/behavioral support. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.