DPP-4 inhibitor dose selection according to manufacturer specifications:A Contemporary Experience From UK General Practice

Recently, 2 dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, sitagliptin and saxagliptin, adjusted dosing specification from creatinine clearance to glomerular filtration rate, more typically reported in routine laboratory tests. This cross-sectional study examines all DPP-4 inhibitor initiations that require dose adjustment and the dose selection using data from UK general practice. Results indicate that 34% of patients taking a nonlinagliptin DPP-4 inhibitor were given a higher dose and 11% a lower dose than specified in the Summary of Product Characteristics. This reinforces the deviation from Summary of Product Characteristics prescription of DPP-4 inhibitors identified in earlier studies despite improvement in compatibility with routine reporting. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc

Alternative Organic Spacers for More Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells Containing Ruddlesden-Popper Phases

The halide perovskite Ruddlesden-Popper (RP) phases are a homologous layered subclass of solution-processable semiconductors that have aroused great attention, especially for developing long-term solar photovoltaics. They are defined as (A′)2(A)n-1PbnX3n+1 (A′ = spacer cation, A = cage cation, and X = halide anion). The orientation control of low-temperature self-assembled thin films is a fundamental issue associated with the ability to control the charge carrier transport perpendicular to the substrate. Here we report new chemical derivatives designed from a molecular perspective using a novel spacer cation 3-phenyl-2-propenammonium (PPA) with conjugated backbone as a low-temperature strategy to assemble more efficient solar cells. First, we solved and refined the crystal structures of single crystals with the general formula (PPA)2(FA0.5MA0.5)n-1PbnI3n+1 (n = 2 and 3, space group C2) using X-ray diffraction and then used the mixed halide (PPA)2(Cs0.05(FA0.88MA0.12)0.95)n-1Pbn(I0.88Br0.12)3n+1 analogues to achieve more efficient devices. While forming the RP phases, multiple hydrogen bonds between PPA and inorganic octahedra reinforce the layered structure. For films we observe that as the targeted layer thickness index increases from n = 2 to n = 4, a less horizontal preferred orientation of the inorganic layers is progressively realized along with an increased presence of high-n or 3D phases, with an improved flow of free charge carriers and vertical to substrate conductivity. Accordingly, we achieve an efficiency of 14.76% for planar p-i-n solar cells using PPA-RP perovskites, which retain 93.8 ± 0.25% efficiency with encapsulation after 600 h at 85 °C and 85% humidity (ISOS-D-3)

Relationship between e-cigarette point of sale recall and e-cigarette use in secondary school children: a cross-sectional study

Background There has been a rapid increase in the retail availability of e-cigarettes in the UK and elsewhere. It is known that exposure to cigarette point-of-sale (POS) displays influences smoking behaviour and intentions in young people. However, there is as yet no evidence regarding the relationship between e-cigarette POS display exposure and e-cigarette use in young people. Methods This cross sectional study survey was conducted in four high schools in Scotland. A response rate of 87% and a total sample of 3808 was achieved. Analysis was by logistic regression on e-cigarette outcomes with standard errors adjusted for clustering within schools. The logistic regression models were adjusted for recall of other e-cigarette adverts, smoking status, and demographic variables. Multiple chained imputation was employed to assess the consistency of the findings across different methods of handling missing data. Results Adolescents who recalled seeing e-cigarettes in small shops were more likely to have tried an e-cigarette (OR 1.92 99% CI 1.61 to 2.29). Adolescents who recalled seeing e-cigarettes for sale in small shops (OR 1.80 99% CI 1.08 to 2.99) or supermarkets (OR 1.70 99% CI 1.22 to 2.36) were more likely to intend to try them in the next 6 months. Conclusions This study has found a cross-sectional association between self-reported recall of e-cigarette POS displays and use of, and intention to use, e-cigarettes. The magnitude of this association is comparable to that between tobacco point of sale recall and intention to use traditional cigarettes in the same sample. Further longitudinal data is required to confirm a causal relationship between e-cigarette point of sale exposure and future use in young people.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

A Straight Forward Route for the Development of Metal–Organic Frameworks Functionalized with Aromatic −OH Groups: Synthesis, Characterization, and Gas (N₂, Ar, H₂, CO₂, CH₄, NH₃) Sorption Properties

A facile and general methodology for the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) functionalized with pendant, aromatic hydroxyl (−OH) groups is presented. Extensive gas-sorption studies in representative and important MOFs functionalized with free aromatic −OH groups such as the IRMOF-8 and DUT-6 (or MOF-205), denoted here as 1 and 2, revealed a high CO2/CH4 selectivity for 1 (13.6 at 273 K and 1 bar) and a high NH3 uptake of 16.4 mol kg–1 at 298 K and 1 bar for 2

A Straight Forward Route for the Development of Metal–Organic Frameworks Functionalized with Aromatic −OH Groups: Synthesis, Characterization, and Gas (N₂, Ar, H₂, CO₂, CH₄, NH₃) Sorption Properties

A facile and general methodology for the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) functionalized with pendant, aromatic hydroxyl (−OH) groups is presented. Extensive gas-sorption studies in representative and important MOFs functionalized with free aromatic −OH groups such as the IRMOF-8 and DUT-6 (or MOF-205), denoted here as <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, revealed a high CO₂/CH₄ selectivity for <b>1</b> (13.6 at 273 K and 1 bar) and a high NH₃ uptake of 16.4 mol kg^–1 at 298 K and 1 bar for <b>2</b>