Are confidence levels of hospital pharmacists different from other pharmacists in the management of anticoagulation therapy? Preliminary results from a multinational pharmacists needs assessment survey

Poster presented at the 22nd Congress of the EAHP (European Association of Hospital Pharmacists): Hospital pharmacists – catalysts for change, 22-24 March 2017, Cannes, FranceN/

Increasing Reproducibility in Science by Interlinking Semantic Artifact Descriptions in a Knowledge Graph

One of the pillars of the scientific method is reproducibility – the ability to replicate the results of a prior study if the same procedures are followed. A lack of reproducibility can lead to wasted resources, false conclusions, and a loss of public trust in science. Ensuring reproducibility is challenging due to the heterogeneity of the methods used in different fields of science. In this article, we present an approach for increasing the reproducibility of research results, by semantically describing and interlinking relevant artifacts such as data, software scripts or simulations in a knowledge graph. In order to ensure the flexibility to adapt the approach to different fields of science, we devise a template model, which allows defining typical descriptions required to increase reproducibility of a certain type of study. We provide a scoring model for gradually assessing the reproducibility of a certain study based on the templates and provide a knowledge graph infrastructure for curating reproducibility descriptions along with semantic research contribution descriptions. We demonstrate the feasibility of our approach with an example in data science

Potentiometric titration of reducing carbohydrates IV. : application of sulphide-selective electrode in sugar analysis

A javasolt módszer abból áll, hogy a redukáló cukrot 0,1 m Hg(II)-EDTA oldattal melegítik. A reagálatlan Hg(II) mennyiségét úgy határozzák meg, hogy az oldathoz szűrés nélkül fölös mennyiségben adnak 0,1 m nátrium-szulfid oldatot és a szulfidfölösleget (0,1 m Hg(II)-EDTA oldattal visszatitrálják. A végpontot szulfidszelektív elektród alkalmazásával potenciometriásan határozzák meg. Ha a melegítést vízfürdőn végzik, a reakció a Hg(II) és a cukor között 30 perc alatt befejeződik. 12 — 42 mg közötti redukáló cukor mennyiségek 10 cm3 0,1 m Hg(II)-EDTA oldattal +1 — 2% átlagos hibával meghatározhatók. Fémhigany jelenléte nem zavarja az eljárást. Die vorgeschlagene Methode besteht aus Erwärmung des reduzierenden Zuckers mit einer 0,1 m Hg(II)-EDTE-Lösung. Unverbrauchtes Hg(II) wird dann —ohne Filtrierung— durch Zugabe einer überschüssigen 0,1 m Natriumsulfidlösung und Zurücktitrierung des Sulfidüberschusses mit einer 0,1 mHg(II)- EDTE-Lösung bestimmt. Die Endpunktbestimmung erfolgt potentiometrisch, unter Anwendung einer sulfidselektiven Elektrode. Wird die Erwärmung aif einem Wasserbad durchgeführt, so beendet sich die Reaktion zwischen Hg(II) und dem reduzierenden Zucker binnen 30 Minuten. Eine Menge von 12-42 mg von reduzierendem Zucker wird mit 10 ml 0,1 m Hg(I I)-EDTE-Lösung mit einem durchschnittlichen Fehler von + 1—2% bestimmt. Anwesenheit von metallischem Quecksilber hat keinen störenden Einfluss. The suggested method consists in heating the reducing sugar with a 0.1 M Hg(II)-EDTA solution. Unconsumed Hg(II) is then determined without filtration, by adding an excess of 0.1 M sodium sulphide solution and back-titrating excess sulphide with aO.l M Hg(II)-EDTA solution. The end point is detected by potentiometry, using a sulphide-selective electrode. If heating is carried out on the water bath, the reaction between Hg(II) and sugar is completed in 30 minutes. Amounts of 12 — 42 mg of reducing sugar are determined with 10 ml of 0.1 M Hg(II)-EDTA solution with an average error of +1 — 2%. The method is not affected by the presence of metallic mercury. Selon la méthode proposée on chauffe le sucre réducteur avec une 0,1 M solution Hg(II)-EDTA. On effectue le dosage du Hg(II) non réagi en ajoutant ä la solution, sans filtrer, un excés d’une solution 0,1 M de Na.S, ensuite on effectue la titration de l’excés du sulphide avec la solution 0,1 M de Hg(II)-EDTA. On déterinine le point final par potentiométrie, ä l’aide d’une electrode sulphideselective. En effectuant le chauffage dans un bain-marie, la reaction entre le Hg(II) et le sucre se termine en 30 minutes. Des quantités de sucre réducteur de 12 ä 42 mg se font déterminer avec 10 ml de la solution 0,1 M de Hg(II)-EDTA avec une erreur de ± 1 —2%. La présence de mercure métallique n’interfére pas avec la méthode

Impedance-Based Water-Quality Monitoring Using the Parallel-Plate Method

The application of electromagnetic (EM) waves to measure the electrical properties (dielectric constant and loss tangent) of materials is a well-known approach. The electrical properties can be used to indirectly measure several physical properties of solutions in water such as the concentration and chemical composition of contaminants in water, as a representative of the liquid phase in soil. A capacitive method of measuring dielectric properties of solutions is proposed to detect and determine low-concentration chemical and biological contaminations in water. The primary objective of this project is to design a low-cost sensor that would require small volumes of samples to detect low concentrations of dissolved contaminants in water. A forward model was developed using a finite-element method (FEM) to simulate the experimental setup (EXP). A calibration function was also developed to minimize deviations between FEM and EXP results for benchmark/reference solutions with known dielectric properties. The validated, calibrated forward model was then inverted to calculate the electrical properties of unknown solutions using the corresponding EXP results

Uncoupling growth from phosphorus uptake in Lemna: Implications for use of duckweed in wastewater remediation and P recovery in temperate climates

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for crop growth and the second most limiting after N. Current supplies rely on P‐rich rocks that are unevenly distributed globally and exploited unsustainably, leading to concerns about future availability and therefore food security. Duckweeds (Lemnaceae) are aquatic macrophytes used in wastewater remediation with the potential for nutrient recycling as feed or fertilizer. The use of duckweeds in this way is confined to tropical regions as it has previously been assumed that growth in the colder seasons of the temperate regions would be insufficient. In this study, the combined effects of cool temperatures and short photoperiods on growth and P uptake and accumulation in Lemna were investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. Growth and P accumulation in Lemna can be uncoupled, with significant P removal from the medium and accumulation within the plants occurring even at 8°C and 6‐hr photoperiods. Direct measurement of radiolabeled phosphate uptake confirmed that while transport is strongly temperature dependent, uptake can still be measured at 5°C. Prior phosphate starvation of the duckweed and use of nitrate as the nitrogen (N) source also greatly increased the rate of P removal and in‐cell accumulation. These results form the basis for further examination of the feasibility of duckweed‐based systems for wastewater treatment and P recapture in temperate climates, particularly in small, rural treatment works

Thick Does the Trick: Genesis of Ferroelectricity in 2D GeTe-Rich (GeTe)m(Sb2Te3)n Lamellae

The possibility to engineer (GeTe)m(Sb2Te3)n phase-change materials to co-host ferroelectricity is extremely attractive. The combination of these functionalities holds great technological impact, potentially enabling the design of novel multifunctional devices. Here an experimental and theoretical study of epitaxial (GeTe)m(Sb2Te3)n with GeTe-rich composition is presented. These layered films feature a tunable distribution of (GeTe)m(Sb2Te3)1 blocks of different sizes. Breakthrough evidence of ferroelectric displacement in thick (GeTe)m(Sb2Te3)1 lamellae is provided. The density functional theory calculations suggest the formation of a tilted (GeTe)m slab sandwiched in GeTe-rich blocks. That is, the net ferroelectric polarization is confined almost in-plane, representing an unprecedented case between 2D and bulk ferroelectric materials. The ferroelectric behavior is confirmed by piezoresponse force microscopy and electroresistive measurements. The resilience of the quasi van der Waals character of the films, regardless of their composition, is also demonstrated. Hence, the material developed hereby gathers in a unique 2D platform the phase-change and ferroelectric switching properties, paving the way for the conception of innovative device architectures

UK construction companies’ strategies in the face of business cycles

Firms in the construction industry have always had to deal with the challenges of the economic cycle and develop strategies to deal with the resulting fluctuations in their business environment. In the context of the 2008–2011 double-dip recession in the UK, the results of a survey targeting the top one hundred construction companies in the UK are reported here. This research is particularly intended to assess whether the strategies of large companies in the construction sector, when faced with the issues associated with the variation in the economic cycle, have changed since the previous business cycle (i.e. the 1986–1990 boom followed by the 1990–1991 recession). The survey reveals the challenges that companies have faced, reports on company behaviour and on the policies adopted. While there are many similarities between policies adopted during the recessionary periods of the two cycles, the research found notable changes in attitudes towards diversification, human resource management and price bidding

Can sulphur improve the nutrient uptake, partitioning, and seed yield of sesame?

Sulphur (S) is considered to improve the nutrient uptake of plants due to its synergistic relationship with other nutrients. This could ultimately enhance the seed yield of oilseed crops. However, there is limited quantitative information on nutrient uptake, distribution, and its associated impacts on seed yield of sesame under the S application. Thus, a two-year field study (2018 and 2019) was conducted to assess the impacts of different S treatments (S-0 = Control, S-20 = 20, S-40 = 40, and S-60 = 60 kg ha(-1)) on total dry matter production, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, S uptake and distribution at the mid-bloom stage and physiological maturity. Furthermore, treatment impacts were studied on the number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, thousand seed weight, and seed yield at physiological maturity in sesame. Compared to S-0, over the years, treatment S-40 significantly increased the total uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and S (by 13, 22, 11% and 16%, respectively) at physiological maturity, while their distribution by 13, 36, 14, and 24% (in leaves), 12, 15, 11, and 15% (in stems), 15, 42, 18, and 10% (in capsules), and 14, 22, 9, and 15% (in seeds), respectively. Enhanced nutrient uptake and distribution in treatment S-40 improved the total biomass accumulation (by 28%) and distribution in leaves (by 34%), stems (by 27%), capsules (by 26%), and seeds (by 28%), at physiological maturity, as compared to S-0. Treatment S-40 increased the number of capsules per plant (by 13%), number of seeds per capsule (by 11%), and thousand seed weight (by 6%), compared to S-0. Furthermore, over the years, relative to control, sesame under S-40 had a higher seed yield by 28% and enhanced the net economic returns by 44%. Thus, our results suggest that optimum S level at the time of sowing improves the nutrient uptake and distribution during the plant lifecycle, which ultimately enhances total dry matter accumulation, seed yield, and net productivity of sesame

Comprehensive Study in the Inhibitory Effect of Berberine on Gene Transcription, Including TATA Box

Berberine (BBR) is an established natural DNA intercalator with numerous pharmacological functions. However, currently there are neither detailed reports concerning the distribution of this alkaloid in living cells nor reports concerning the relationship between BBR's association with DNA and the function of DNA. Here we report that the distribution of BBR within the nucleus can be observed 30 minutes after drug administration, and that the content of berberine in the nucleus peaks at around 4 µmol, which is twelve hours after drug administration. The spatial conformation of DNA and chromatin was altered immediately after their association with BBR. Moreover, this association can effectively suppress the transcription of DNA in living cell systems and cell-free systems. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) demonstrated further that BBR can inhibit the association between the TATA binding protein (TBP) and the TATA box in the promoter, and this finding was also attained in living cells by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Based on results from this study, we hypothesize that berberine can suppress the transcription of DNA in living cell systems, especially suppressing the association between TBP and the TATA box by binding with DNA and, thus, inhibiting TATA box-dependent gene expression in a non-specific way. This novel study has significantly expanded the sphere of knowledge concerning berberine's pharmacological effects, beginning at its paramount initial interaction with the TATA box

Randomised evaluation of the Italian medicines use review provided by community pharmacists using asthma as a model (RE I-MUR)

Background The Italian Ministry of Health decided to introduce community professional services in 2010. This trial provides an opportunity to evaluate the outcomes of a new professional pharmacy service: Italian Medicines Use Review (I-MUR) aimed at reducing the severity of asthma and its associated costs. Methods/Design This is a cluster randomised controlled trial of the I-MUR service. Data will be collected over time before, during and after pharmacists’ intervention. Fifteen Italian regions will be involved and it is aimed to recruit 360 community pharmacists and 1800 patients. Each pharmacist will receive training in medicines use review, recruit five patients, administer the Asthma Control Test and provide the I-MUR service. Pharmacists will be allocated to different groups, one group will be trained in and provide the I-MUR service immediately after completion of the baseline ACT score, the other group will receive training in the I-MUR and provide this service three months later. Group allocation will be random, after stratification by region of Italy. The I-MUR service will involve gathering data following each patient consultation including demographic details, patients regular medications, including those used for asthma, their attitude towards their medications and self-reported adherence to treatments. In addition, pharmacists will identify and record pharmaceutical care issues and any advice given to patients during the I-MUR, or recommendations given to doctors. Pharmacists will upload trial data onto a web platform for analysis. The primary outcome measure is the severity of asthma before, during and after the I-MUR assessed using the Asthma Control Test score. Secondary measures: number of all active ingredients used by patients during and after the I-MUR, number of pharmaceutical care issues identified during the I-MUR, patients’ self-reported adherence to asthma medication during and after the I-MUR, healthcare costs based on the severity of asthma, before, during and after the I-MUR service provision. Discussion This study has been developed because of the need for a new way of working for pharmacists and pharmacies; it is the first trial of any community pharmacy-based pharmaceutical care intervention in Italy. The results will inform future policy and practice in Italian community pharmacy. Trial registration number ISRCTN72438848. Keywords Asthma – Medicines use review – Cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) – Community pharmac