•Ferroboron powder addition affected abrasive wear resistance positively.•Hard phase morphology has a major effect on wear resistance in addition to hardness.•Increasing FeB in powder mixture ...increased the hardness and the wear resistance.•Increasing boron content promoted the formation of primary hard phases.
The aim of this study is the investigation of the effect of ferroboron and the amount of powder mixture (ferroboron+ferrochromium) on wear resistance of Iron (Fe)–Chromium (Cr)–Carbon (C) based hardfacing alloys. Powder mixture, consisting of ferrochromium (FeCr) and ferroboron (FeB), was added to massive wire during welding process. Hardfaced layers were obtained by three different powder mixtures and two different powder/massive wire proportions. Hardfacing was applied to AISI 1020 steel substrate by open arc welding. Hardness test, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, dry sand/rubber wheel abrasion test were executed. Test results showed that increasing ferroboron content and increasing powder mixture amount enhanced the wear resistance.
The objective of this study is to investigate the solubilization of poorly water-soluble anticancer drugs, octaethylporphine (OEP), meso-tetraphenyl porphine (mTPP) and camptothecin (CPT), in ...Pluronic and polyethylene glycol–distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (PEG–DSPE) polymeric micelles. Three different Pluronic and PEG–DSPE polymers with various chain lengths were chosen and micelle formulations were prepared by using various drug:polymer ratios. Formulations were characterized by critical micellization concentration (CMC) values of copolymers, micelle particle size and distribution, zeta potential, loading efficiency and stability. Polymers formed very stable, low CMC micelles with smaller sizes than 100
nm. It was shown that drug loading efficiency highly depends on the polymer type, drug type and their ratios. The most efficient drug loading was obtained by loading mTPP in PEG
2000–DSPE and Pluronic F127 micelles. This result is attributed to phenyl groups in mTPP might lead to attraction between alkyl groups in the polymer and increase drug incorporation. PEG–DSPE formulations had higher zeta potential values indicating that they would be more stable against aggregation than Pluronic micelles. From the drug assay aspect Pluronic micelles remained more stable in 3-month long stability test. These results showed that besides their solubilizing effects, polymeric micelles could be useful as novel drug carriers for hydrophobic drugs.
Summary This study evaluated the effect of a multifaceted intervention (screening and patient education) by community pharmacists on testing or treatment of osteoporosis. One hundred and twenty-nine ...patients randomized to receive the intervention were compared to 133 patients who did not receive the intervention. Twice as many patients who got the intervention received further testing or treatment for osteoporosis. Introduction The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a community pharmacist screening program on testing and treatment of osteoporosis. Methods In this randomized, controlled trial, 262 patients meeting bone mineral density (BMD) testing guidelines men or women aged ≥ 65 years or 50-64 years with one major risk factor including previous fracture, family history of osteoporosis, glucocorticoids for > 3 months, or early menopause were allocated to intervention (129) or control (133). Intervention consisted of printed materials, education, and quantitative ultrasound. Primary outcome was a composite endpoint of BMD or prescription for osteoporosis medication within 4 months. Results Primary endpoint of BMD or osteoporosis treatment was achieved by 28 intervention patients (22%) compared with 14 controls (11%) (RR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.7). This was driven by BMD testing (28 (22%) vs. 13 (10%) for controls, p = 0.011). Calcium intake increased more among intervention patients than controls (30% vs. 19%, RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0-2.5). There was no effect on knowledge or quality of life. Conclusion A pharmacist screening program doubled the number of patients tested for osteoporosis. Nevertheless, many patients eligible for BMD did not receive appropriate care suggesting more intensive interventions are needed.
PurposeTo evaluate aqueous humor (AH) pentraxin-3 (PTX3) levels in diabetic patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR).MethodsIn this prospective study, patients undergoing cataract surgery ...were enrolled. The study group was composed of 26 type-2 diabetic patients without DR (group 1), 32 diabetic patients with DR (group 2) and 29 age-matched subjects without any systemic disease (group 3). Fifteen proliferative DR (PDR) and 17 non-proliferative DR (NPDR) patients were enrolled in Group 2. HbA1c levels and duration of diabetes were noted. AH samples were obtained from anterior chamber at the beginning of cataract surgery and PTX3 levels were analyzed with Elisa kit.ResultsBaseline demographic characteristics were similar between groups. The mean duration of diabetes was 11.9±7.9 years in group 1 and 15.8±7.8 years in group 2 (P=0.11). The mean plasma HbA1c levels in group 1 was 9.1±2.6 and 8.2±2.4 in group 2 (P=0.36). PTX3 levels were 5.75±0.41 in group 1, 6.11±1.47 in group 2 and 4.93±0.84 ng/ml in group 3 (P=0.01). PTX3 levels in group 2 were higher than in group 1 and 3 (P=0.06 and P=0.01, respectively). There was no correlation between HbA1c and PTX3 levels (P=0.06 r=0.57, P=0.19 r=0.3, respectively). The mean PTX3 was 6.6±0.3 in PDR group and 5.6±0.5 ng/ml in NPDR group (P=0.04).ConclusionsPTX3 is an important marker especially for vascular endothelial damage. Since diabetic vascular changes are dependent on endothelial cell damage, high levels of AH PTX3 of DR patients may indicate the importance of PTX3 protein in the pathogenesis of DR.
In this study, the usability of Au, Ag and Cu metal atoms loaded boron-nitride nanotube (BNNT) structures for ethylene oxide adsorbent and gas sensor were investigated by Density Functional Theory ...(DFT). The WB97XD method has been utilized. Metal atoms were doped with different conformation on both B and N atoms sites of BNNT. After ethylene oxide adsorption, the adsorption energies were computed as negative values in all structures. For Cu doped BNNT, adsorption energy and adsorption enthalpy values were reached −25.2 kcal/mol and −8.2 kcal/mol values, respectively. We observed that the adsorption reactions can occur spontaneously on the structures. Charge transfer took place from ethylene oxide molecule to BNNT structures. Besides, some changes in workfunction emerged in all structures. As a result, Au doped BNNT can be used as both an electronic sensor and a workfunction type gas sensor for ethylene oxide molecule at room temperature.
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•Gas sensing and adsorption studies of EO molecule were examined using DFT method.•ΔE of metal doped BNNTs were computed in the range of (−17.6) - (−25.2) kcal/mol.•Also, Au-BNNT can be used as both an electronic sensor and a Φ-type gas sensor.
Summary
What is known and objective
Since 2007, pharmacists in Alberta have had authority to adapt existing prescriptions and independently prescribe medications after a peer review process. This ...study aimed to explore and characterize how pharmacists incorporated prescribing into practice 3 years after this legislation was approved.
Methods
We invited pharmacists to participate in semi‐structured telephone interviews to discuss their prescribing practices. Pharmacists working in community, primary care network, hospital or other settings were selected using a mix of purposive and random sampling. Two investigators independently analysed each transcript using an Interpretive Description approach and thematically categorized prescribing practices according to the level of adoption.
Results and discussion
Thirty‐eight pharmacists (n = 13 independent prescribers) participated. Eighteen (47%) had a primary practice site from community practice, eight (21%) primary care, five (13%) hospital practice and seven (18%) from other settings including specialty clinics and long‐term care. Twenty‐eight participants were categorized as adopters and ten as non‐adopters in their primary practice setting. Prescribing practices adopted were characterized as product focused, disease focused or patient focused. Sixteen (42%) described product‐focused prescribing where they continued an existing therapy or substituted medications based on formulary guidelines. Seven (18%) described disease‐focused prescribing where current therapies were adapted or initiated based on a protocol in a specific therapeutic area. Five (13%) described patient‐focused prescribing where they initiated therapy based on patient needs and values, their assessment of the patient and best evidence. Non‐adopters were not prescribing, but many described provision of disease or patient‐focused care where they influenced prescribing by interacting with other members of the healthcare team. Most commonly, community pharmacists participated in product‐focused prescribing, whereas hospital and primary care pharmacists practised disease‐focused prescribing.
What is new and conclusion
Our data suggest that there have been context‐related differences in uptake across practice settings. Despite this, pharmacists in all studied settings engaged in prescribing activities using three approaches and many pharmacists who were not directly prescribing medications reported having involvement in drug therapy decision‐making.
This study aimed to explore and characterize how pharmacists incorporated prescribing into practice 3 years after this legislation was approved. Our data suggest that there have been context‐related differences in uptake across practice settings. Despite this, pharmacists in all studied settings engaged in prescribing activities using three approaches and many pharmacists who were not directly prescribing medications reported having involvement in drug therapy decision‐making.
The effective thermal conductivity (ETC) of multilayer thermal insulation materials was experimentally investigated as a function of temperature (0–25 °C). The materials consisted of binary/ternary ...glass wools or ternary expanded polystyrene foams reinforced with aluminium foil. The experimental measurements were performed using a guarded hot plate with temperature differences of 5, 10 and 15 °C. The results indicated that significant correlations exist between ETC and the characteristics of the materials with decreasing temperature. The ETC decreases with reinforcement with aluminium foil at the same temperature or with temperature differences of 5 and 15 °C. In addition, it was clearly observed that the ETC decreases sharply with decreased temperature. Consequently, reflective materials may reduce the ETC at low temperatures.
There are limited data showing right ventricular preload increase due to high-flow arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs). This cross-sectional study investigated whether high AVF flow had an impact on right ...ventricular function in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Sixty-four patients aged between 18 and 85 years who were on routine hemodialysis with >2 hemodialysis sessions per week for at least 3 months via an AVF were studied. Patients with inadequate flow fistulas, severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, history of pulmonary embolism, primary pulmonary hypertension, severe mitral, aortic or pulmonary regurgitation, and/or stenosis were excluded. After an initial evaluation, 44 patients (mean age: 58.50 ± 16.84, male:female = 23:21) were considered eligible. Right ventricular function was assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). AVF blood flow was measured with duplex ultrasound. There were 15 patients (34.1%) with a TAPSE of <16 mm. AVF blood flow was significantly higher in patients with impaired versus normal right ventricular function (1631.53 ± 738.17 vs. 1060.55 ± 539.92 min/ml, respectively, P = 0.003). Low left ventricular ejection fraction (odds ratio OR: 1.15, 95% confidence intervals CI: 1.007-1.334, P = 0.04), high interventricular septum thickness (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.104-2.464, P = 0.01), and high AVF blood flow (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 1.000-1.003, P = 0.03) were independent predictors of impaired right ventricular function. In addition to known risk factors that predominantly increase right ventricular afterload, excessive AVF blood flow was found to be independently associated with impaired right ventricular function, possibly by increasing right ventricular preload.
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