88 research outputs found
Dynamics of Collapse of flexible Polyelectrolytes and Polyampholytes
We provide a theory for the dynamics of collapse of strongly charged
polyelectrolytes (PEs) and flexible polyampholytes (PAs) using Langevin
equation. After the initial stage, in which counterions condense onto PE, the
mechanism of approach to the globular state is similar for PE and PA. In both
instances, metastable pearl-necklace structures form in characteristic time
scale that is proportional to N^{4/5} where N is the number of monomers. The
late stage of collapse occurs by merger of clusters with the largest one
growing at the expense of smaller ones (Lifshitz- Slyozov mechanism). The time
scale for this process T_{COLL} N. Simulations are used to support the proposed
collapse mechanism for PA and PE.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure
Reduced costs with bisoprolol treatment for heart failure - An economic analysis of the second Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study (CIBIS-II)
Background
Beta-blockers, used as an adjunctive to diuretics, digoxin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, improve survival in chronic heart failure. We report a prospectively planned economic analysis of the cost of adjunctive beta-blocker therapy in the second Cardiac Insufficiency BIsoprolol Study (CIBIS II).
Methods
Resource utilization data (drug therapy, number of hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, ward type) were collected prospectively in all patients in CIBIS . These data were used to determine the additional direct costs incurred, and savings made, with bisoprolol therapy. As well as the cost of the drug, additional costs related to bisoprolol therapy were added to cover the supervision of treatment initiation and titration (four outpatient clinic/office visits). Per them (hospital bed day) costings were carried out for France, Germany and the U.K. Diagnosis related group costings were performed for France and the U.K. Our analyses took the perspective of a third party payer in France and Germany and the National Health Service in the U.K.
Results
Overall, fewer patients were hospitalized in the bisoprolol group, there were fewer hospital admissions perpatient hospitalized, fewer hospital admissions overall, fewer days spent in hospital and fewer days spent in the most expensive type of ward. As a consequence the cost of care in the bisoprolol group was 5-10% less in all three countries, in the per them analysis, even taking into account the cost of bisoprolol and the extra initiation/up-titration visits. The cost per patient treated in the placebo and bisoprolol groups was FF35 009 vs FF31 762 in France, DM11 563 vs DM10 784 in Germany and pound 4987 vs pound 4722 in the U.K. The diagnosis related group analysis gave similar results.
Interpretation
Not only did bisoprolol increase survival and reduce hospital admissions in CIBIS II, it also cut the cost of care in so doing. This `win-win' situation of positive health benefits associated with cost savings is Favourable from the point of view of both the patient and health care systems. These findings add further support for the use of beta-blockers in chronic heart failure
Interaction of Double-Stranded T4 DNA with Cationic Gel of Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)
A Technique to Automate STG Analysis and Refinement for CSC and Normalcy
Abstract. Signal Transition Graph (STG) is a well-known form of specifying the system behavior along with the behavior of its environment. Normalcy has recently gained the circuits designers\u92 attention as an STG property, which guarantees that the behavior given by STG is implementable by a circuit composed of negative or positive gates without input inverters. This contributes to the circuit robustness while the use of negative gates in CMOS technology is prospective for power consumption, area and/or latency minimization. The paper presents an automated technique for analyzing and refining the original STG for CSC and normalcy. The technique operates on the STG level facilitating the designer to effectively follow the procedures and deeply customize the refinement on the level of STG behavior specification
Hydrogel Composites of Neutral and Slightly Charged Poly(acrylamide) Gels with Incorporated Bentonite. Interaction with Salt and Ionic Surfactants
Verification driven synthesis of asynchronous circuits from STG specification
this paper we consider a method which allows taking advantage of both: optimal solution, obtained with SG based methods and fast processing time of structural approaches. Advantage of this approach is most obvious for the STGs that allow the negative or simple gate implementation
Interaction of Sodium Poly(2-acrylamide-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonate) Linear Polymer and Gel with Metal Salts
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