bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of voriconazole on the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine in renal transplant patients
Authors: Romero Alain J. , Pogamp Patrick Le , Nilsson Lars‐Goran , Wood Nolan 
Published: August 2002

ObjectiveVoriconazole is a broad‐spectrum triazole antifungal agent under investigation for opportunistic infections that often target immunosuppressed patients. This study investigated the effect of voriconazole on the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine (INN, ciclosporin).MethodsThis was a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study in kidney transplant recipients with stable renal function who were receiving cyclosporine (150‐375 mg/d). During the first study period (7.5 days), subjects in group A received concomitant voriconazole (200 mg every 12 hours); group B received a matched placebo. After a washout period (≥4 days), subjects were crossed over to the other treatment regimen.ResultsIn the 7 subjects who completed both regimens, concomitant administration with voriconazole resulted in a 1.7‐fold increase in mean cyclosporine area under the plasma concentration‐time curve within a dosage interval (AUCτ; 90% confidence interval, 1.47 to 1.96). Cyclosporine maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax) and the time to the first occurrence of Cmax (tmax) were not affected in a clinically significant manner, but plasma trough concentration (Cmin) was higher in the presence of voriconazole than with placebo. The mean increase in cyclosporine Cmin in subjects who ceased to participate in the study was 2.48‐fold (range, 1.88 to 3.03). There were 7 subjects who stopped participating in the study during voriconazole administration. Six of these subjects discontinued the study for reasons that were considered to be drug related, and the majority were attributable to increased cyclosporine levels. Although not serious, all causality‐related adverse events were more frequent during voriconazole administration than during placebo administration.ConclusionsMean cyclosporine AUCτ increased 1.7‐fold in the presence of voriconazole. Therefore, when voriconazole is initiated in patients already receiving cyclosporine, it is recommended that the cyclosporine dose be halved and that blood cyclosporine concentrations be carefully monitored. When voriconazole is discontinued, blood cyclosporine concentrations should be monitored and the cyclosporine dose increased, if necessary.Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2002) 71, 226–234; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2002.121911
CONNECTIVITY PROPERTIES IN RANDOM REGULAR GRAPHS WITH EDGE FAULTS
Authors: NIKOLETSEAS S. , PALEM K. , SPIRAKIS P. , YUNG M. 
Published: August 2002

We introduce a new model of random graphs, that of random regular graphs with edge faults (which we denote by [Formula: see text]), obtained by selecting the edges of a random member of the set of all regular graphs of degree r independently and with probability p. We can thus represent a communication network in which the links fail independently and with probability f =1-p. In order to deal with this new model, we extend the notion of configurations and the translation lemma between configurations and random regular graphs provided by B. Bollobás, by introducing the concept of random configurations, to account for edge faults, and by providing an extended translation lemma between random configurations and [Formula: see text] graphs. We investigate important connectivity properties of [Formula: see text] by estimating the ranges of r, f for which, with high probability, [Formula: see text] graphs a) are highly connected b) become disconnected and c) admit a giant connected component of small diameter.
Communicating for the First Time with Delusional Patients
Authors: Wolf Zane Robinson 
Published: August 2002

BACKGROUND: Aggression and threats of violence are acknowledged elements of psychiatric settings. One of the most upsetting clinical experiences for nursing students is the psychiatric-mental health practicum in which students are expected to communicate therapeutically with hospitalized, delusional patients. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe the experiences of undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students as they communicate for the first time with delusional, hospitalized patients whom they perceived as frightening and to describe the meaning and essences of their experiences. It was assumed that students would find the delusional patients frightening. STUDY DESIGN: Colaizzi’s (1978) phenomenologic approach was used to investigate the student experience. Participants (N = 35) wrote about their experiences during week 12 of a senior year psychiatric-mental health nursing class. RESULTS: Students feared the unpredictable behavior of patients and wished to avoid interaction with them; the students also made the transition from fear of patients to empathy and concern for them. The findings indicated that students were reassured by staff proximity. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric nursing faculty should develop role-playing scenarios about caring for delusional patients and establish strong alliances with staff to increase the students’ sense of safety.
Effect of Cigarette Variables on Ignition Propensity of Various Fabrics
Authors: Wanna Joseph T. , Zelius Peggy 
Published: August 2002

A factorial matrix consisting of 25 cigarette samples, where tobacco density, circumference, paper porosity and paper citrate were varied at three levels was tested on cotton duck, treated sailcloth and four commercial fabrics. Duck fabrics are heavy canvas-type fabrics that have very high levels of potassium ions. Treated sailcloth is a light areal density fabric treated with potassium sulfate and hydroxide salts to produce ignition results that mimic those obtained with light areal density commercial fabrics. The chosen commercial fabrics had light, heavy and mid-range areal densities. The results underscore the fact that changing tobacco column parameters does not produce cigarette designs that perform consistently well on all fabric types. Lower cigarette density and reduced circumference levels reduce ignitions on duck fabrics but increase ignitions on treated sailcloth and the light areal density commercial fabric. Reducing paper porosity reduced ignitions on duck fabric, had little effect on treated sailcloth and increased ignitions on the light areal density commercial fabric. Paper citrate had the smallest effect. Ignition results on duck fabrics correlated with each other but were in contrast to those obtained with treated sailcloth. The heavy and light areal density fabrics produced similar ignition results to the duck fabrics and treated sailcloth, respectively. The two mid-weight commercial fabrics produced ignition results dissimilar to the other fabrics.
The Influence of Photodynamic Therapy on the Wound Healing Process in Rats
Authors: Jayasree R. S. , Gupta A. K. , Rathinam K. , Mohanan P. V. , Mohanty M. 
Published: August 2002

In photodynamic therapy (PDT), photosensitisers (PS) are used along with lasers for the treatment of tumors. The combined effect of photosensitisers and lasers on the wound healing process is studied using δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) (5 mg/kg) and hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) (5 mg/kg) as photosensitisers in the open excision wounds of rats. The lasers used were He-Ne laser (3 J/cm2) and Nd: YAG laser (30 J/cm2). This study is important for understanding the healing process involved after PDT. Open excision wounds treated with He-Ne lasers in animals that received ALA as photosensitiser showed complete wound closure at the earliest by 13 ± 1 days, and with results obtained for HPD and the combination of lasers with complete closing by 14 ± 1 days. However, the control group of animals that received ALS or HPD with no laser treatment showed wound healing on the twentieth and eighteenth days with a deviation of one day and two days, respectively. ALA with the combination of Nd: YAG and He-Ne lasers and HPD with He-Ne laser alone does not show quicker wound healing effects. Histopathological results also gave similar results. Tensile strength measurements do not vary significantly from control group to the test group. ALA along with He-Ne laser of HPD along with the combination of He-Ne and low power Nd-YAG lasers are found to be ideal methods for quickening the wound healing process in rat.
Venting of Attics and Pitched, Insulated Roofs
Authors: Blom Peter 
Published: August 2002

This paper discusses venting of roof constructions in single-family houses. In Norway, roof venting is considered to be crucial in order to prevent ice formation at the eaves and remove excess moisture. This paper is based on temperature and moisture measurements in a test roof with 12 segments, each with a different roof construction. Additional measurements are made in two attics in inhabited dwellings. A computer program has been developed to simulate the temperature conditions in the test roof. The paper concludes that venting of roof constructions should not be neglected in modern roofing systems in Norway. However, the paper points out that thermal insulation and continuous wind/vapour barriers in the roof are key factors in preventing ice formation.
A Damage-Coupled TMF Constitutive Model for Solder Alloy
Authors: Wei Yong , Chow C. L. 
Published: August 2002

This paper presents the development of a damage-coupled constitutive model to characterize the mechanical behavior of 63Sn-37Pb solder material under thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF) loading. Based on the theory of damage mechanics, two internal state variables, known as the damage parameters, are introduced to characterize material degradation due to the change of material microstructures under load. Then, a damage effect tensor is proposed to define the effective stress for a damaged material. In general, there are two different kinds of damage accumulation depending upon the mode of loading: inelastic damage and fatigue damage. With the aid of irreversible thermodynamics, the damage evolution equations are established. A failure criterion is proposed based on the equivalent damage accumulation in materials. A test program to determine the material parameters is also presented. The damage model is implemented in a finite element program ABAQUS through its user-defined material subroutine UMAT. The model is applied to predict the behavior for 63Sn-37Pb solder alloy under monotonic tensile loading, load-controlled tensile creep loading and strain-controlled fatigue loading. The behavior of a notched specimen under monotonic tensile loading is also examined. The predicted failure mode and maximum load agree well with those measured experimentally.
Quality Assessment of Heparin Coatings by their Binding Capacities of Coagulation and Complement Enzymes
Authors: Weber N. , Wendel H. P. , Ziemer G. 
Published: August 2002

In vitro testing of blood contacting materials before clinical application is generally advisable. Four heparin coatings from different manufacturers were tested for adsorbed proteins and soluble activation markers. The surface with the highest antithrombin, thrombin, high-molecular-weight-kininogen (HMWK) and the lowest fibrinogen binding capacity (Carmeda, Medtronic) showed significantly lower levels of granulocytes and platelet activation (β-TG, PMN-elastase release). No statistically significant differences in soluble markers of the coagulation system could be detected (F1+2, TAT). Interestingly, complement activation (TCC) was significantly reduced within the group of the lowest adsorption of the complement factor C3. Our data demonstrate that there is a relation between the binding affinity of proteins (C1-inhibitor, C3-complement) and the consecutive changes in complement activation (TCC). Therefore, measuring adsorbed proteins on artificial surfaces is a suitable, sensitive and very reproducible method for assessing the thrombogenicity of biomaterials.
Influence of the Selection of the Suture Material on the Mechanical Behavior of a Biomaterial to be Employed in the Construction of Implants. Part 1: Calf Pericardium
Authors: Páez J. M. García , Carrera A. , Herrero E. Jorge , Millán I. , Rocha A. , Cordón A. , Sainz N. , Mendez J. , Castillo-Olivares J. L. 
Published: August 2002

A hydraulic stress simulator was employed to study the mechanical behavior of the calf pericardium used in the construction of cardiac valve leaflets. One hundred eighty pairs of tissue samples were subjected to tensile testing to rupture. One of the two samples from each of 144 pairs (four series of 36 pairs each) was sutured with commercially available threads made of nylon, silk, Prolene or Gore-Tex, while the other sample in each of these pairs was left unsewn. The remaining 36 pairs were employed as controls in which neither of the two samples was subjected to suturing. The sutured tissue samples showed a significant decrease in tensile strength at rupture (range: 11.81 to 26.04 MPa) when compared with unsutured samples (range: 39.38 to 87.96 MPa; p < 0.01). The application of morphological and mechanical selection criteria to maximize the homogeneity of the samples provided excellent fit with respect to the stress/strain curves. This method made it possible to carry out a predictive study of the mechanical behavior of a sutured sample, based on that observed in the corresponding unsutured fragment. The interaction of the different suture materials with the pericardial tissue was also assessed by comparing the mechanical behavior of the sutured samples with that of the control samples. At stresses of less than 0.8 MPa, samples sewn with Gore-Tex were found to show the least difference with respect to the controls, indicating that this material presented the lowest degree of interaction with the pericardium. In conclusion, the degree of the loss of resistance to tearing of the sutured samples is of no value in the selection of the optimal suture material. The selection process applied makes it possible to predict the mechanical behavior in response to suturing of a given unsewn tissue specimen by determining that of its sutured mate. The similarity between the findings in samples sewn with Gore-Tex and in the unsutured controls indicates a lesser degree of interaction between thesuture material and the pericardium employed in the construction of cardiac valve leaflets.
Polymers for Use in Controlled Release Systems: The Effect of Surfactants on their Swelling Properties
Authors: Vlachou M. , Hani N. , Efentakis M. , Tarantili P. A. , Andreopoulos A. G. 
Published: August 2002

The effect of an ampholytic surfactant on the swelling properties of polymeric materials was studied, using various swelling liquids. Tablets were prepared consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, poly(oxyethylene) and sodium alginate. Tego betain was the non-ionic surfactant used as an additive in a series of samples made of the above polymers. Those tablets were immersed in distilled water, phosphate buffer and 0.1 N HCl, and their weight uptake was recorded as a function of time, in order to assess the swelling process. Measurements of the contact angle of the above systems were also carried out for estimating their wetting properties. The results of this study showed a selectivity among polymers, surfactant and surrounding liquid. Clearly, an enhancement of the swelling capacity of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose tablets due to the surfactant was recorded. An unclear effect was observed in the case of poly(oxyethylene), whereas for sodium alginate, the dominant factor is its water solubility that controls swelling behaviour.
Theoretical Analysis of the Effects of Cigarette Design Parameters on the Smoldering Rates, Heat Flux, and Total Heat Released during Smoldering of a Cigarette
Authors: Yi Sung-Chul , Song Eun-Seok , Oh Seong-Geun , Bae Seong-Youl , Moon Sei Ki , Hajaligol Mohammad R. 
Published: August 2002

A mathematical model developed by Muramatsu, Umemura, and Okada (1979) was modified and improved by changing the relative amounts of radiative and conductive heat transfer to study the effects of moisture content in the cigarette, cigarette packing density, and cigarette circumference on the smoldering rates, heat flux, and total heat released during natural smolder of a cigarette. A mathematically predicted temperature profile was fitted to the corresponding experimental values with a nonlinear least-square fitting routine to obtain a smoldering rate and the relative amounts of radiative and conductive heat transfer. Then, based on the relative contribution of heat transfer modes, the heat flux and the total heat released were calculated with the fitted smoldering rate as a function of cigarette design parameters. Results show that the circumference of the cigarette is the major physical factor affecting mass burn rate (MBR), while the packing density of the cigarette strongly affects the linear burn rate (LBR), heat flux, and total heat released.
New Algorithms for 3-D Imaging and Analysis of Open-Celled Foams
Authors: Montminy Matthew D. , Tannenbaum Allen R. , Macosko Christopher W. 
Published: August 2002

Open-celled foams are three-dimensional networks of polymeric cells. The mechanical properties of a foam depend on the size and geometry of its cells. Since foams have a three-dimensional polyhedral structure, the two-dimensional characterization techniques currently used provide limited accuracy. Nuclear magnetic resonance and x-ray tomography methods offeropportunities for three-dimensional imaging of these polyhedral structures. Software, which can use digital three-dimensional images to determine structural parameters such as strut length distribution, connectivity, and cell size, is being developed. The image processing approach uses conformal curvature flow (CCF)segmentation to find the surfaces of foam struts in the 3-D images. Once these surfaces have been found, volume thinning is used to find the structural skeleton of the foam. The resulting data set can then be used to determine many statistical characteristics of the foam, including strut length distributions, window size and shape distributions, and cell size information. Analysis of a reticulated polyurethane foam sample using these methods yielded a reasonable approximation of the structural skeleton of the sample.
Pharmacological fMRI: A New Tool for Drug Development in Humans
Authors: Tracey Irene , Wise Richard G. 
Published: August 2002

Until now, our understanding of human brain pharmacology has depended on indirect assessments or animal models. The advent of pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI) has enabled researchers to focus directly on human pharmacology and brain function. Functional MRI, with its increased spatial and temporal resolution, has a further advantage over other neuroimaging methods in that being totally noninvasive, it allows serial, longitudinal studies to be performed on the same subject. This opens the door to a new era of phMRI, as the effects of drugs can be readily monitored in one subject (control or patient) over time. In addition, sophisticated paradigms can be developed that can isolate specific brain regions of activation. These regions can then be subsequently targeted and challenged with appropriate drugs. This allows for a “battery” of paradigms aimed at determining a drug’s mechanism and site of action, which would be valuable for drug development and discovery.
“Microflex”—A New Assembling Technique for Interconnects
Authors: Stieglitz Thomas , Beutel Hansjoerg , Meyer J. -Uwe 
Published: August 2002

A new interconnection technique has been developed that allows versatile multiple strand connections between microsensors, sensor arrays, and chips designed for wire bonding. The new technique has been termed “Microflex interconnection” technique (MFI). Conventional wire bonding technique is commonly restricted to planar interconnects with a limited degree of freedom for placing microsystem components in hybrid assemblies. The MFI technique has overcome this limitation by interconnecting microsystem components through custom designed flexible substrates with embedded metallized conductors, pad arrays for integrated circuits’ assembly and substrate integrated electrodes. Standard CMOS components without additional pad metallization can be used. The integration density of the MFI technique corresponds to one of the flip-chip technology. Special advantages of the MFI technique are three-dimensional interconnects, the flexibility in design and shape, and easy visual inspection of alignment qualities. The method is especially suitable for small volumes of customer specified devices and biomedical implants because all materials used are biocompatible. Within this paper, the MFI technique is introduced, described in detail, and tested according to international standards. The evaluation of the electrical and mechanical properties of the interconnection sites exhibited promising results regarding stability and reliability. First applications in the biomedical field were presented on the example of a neural implant and a sensorized cardiac catheter.
Characterization and Performance of Electrorheological Fluids Based on Pine Oils
Authors: Mäkelä Kimmo K. 
Published: August 2002

The purpose of this paper is to study the characteristics and performance of pine oil and its ester as a base fluid material for electrorheological fluids. Here, all the tested fluids had a relatively low concentration level of between 5-15% of weight to study the electrorheological strength and phenomena for rotary machines as an application for keeping the working fluid in a steady position while the machine is not working. The objective of this basic study is to give an introduction to the electrorheological fluids based on polyaniline particles and pine oil and to measure their dependencies on changes in the applied external electric field, temperature, shear rate, dynamic viscosity and concentration, and to study the influence of grinding the particles.
On the Integration of Piezoceramic Actuators in Composite Structures for Aerospace Applications
Authors: Durr Johannes K. , Herold-Schmidt Ursula , Zaglauer Helmut W. , Arendts Franz Joseph 
Published: August 2002

Up to now experimental and theoretical research on active structures for aerospace applications has put the focus mainly on surface bonded actuators. Simultaneously piezoceramics became the major type of actuating device being investigated for smart structures. In this context various techniques of insulating, bonding and operating these actuators have been developed. However, especially with regard to actuators, only a few investigations have dealt with embedding of these components into the load bearing structure so far. With increasing shares of fibre-reinforced plastics applied in aerospace products the option of integrating the actuation capability into the components should be reconsidered during the design process. This paper deals with different aspects related to the integration of piezoceramic actuators into fibre reinforced aerospace structures. An outline of the basic possibilities of either bonding an actuator to the structure's surface or embedding it into the composite is given while the emphasis is put on different aspects related to the latter technology. Subsequently, recent efforts at DaimlerChrysler Aerospace Dornier concerning aircraft components with surface bonded actuators are presented. Design considerations regarding embedded piezoceramic actuators are discussed. Finally, some techniques of nondestructive testing applicable to structures with surface bonded as well as embedded piezoelectric actuators are described.