Single-Step Formation of Metal Oxide Nanostructures Wrapped in Mesoporous Silica and Silica-Niobia Catalysts for the Condensation of Furfural with Acetone.

The integration of metal oxide nanomaterials with mesoporous silica is a promising approach to exploiting the advantages of both types of materials. Traditional synthesis methods typically require multiple steps. This work instead presents a fast, one-step, template-free method for the synthesis of metal oxides homogeneously dispersed within mesoporous silica, including oxides of W, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sn, and Mo.

Impact of Surface Hydroxyl Groups on CuO Film Growth by Atomic Layer Deposition.

CuO-based nanostructures have been widely investigated in catalysis, sensing, and energy conversion and storage in recent years. The unique properties of these nanostructures are largely related to the morphology and crystallinity of CuO. The controlled deposition of conformal CuO thin films by atomic layer deposition (ALD) has remained challenging until now owing to the limited understanding of the nucleation behavior and growth process.

Sacubitril/Valsartan Initiation Among Veterans Who Are Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitor Naïve With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Background Sacubitril/valsartan, a first-in-class angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, received US Food and Drug Administration approval in 2015 for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Our objective was to describe the sacubitril/valsartan initiation rate, associated characteristics, and 6-month follow-up dosing among veterans with HFrEF who are renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi) naïve. Methods and Results Retrospective cohort study of veterans with HFrEF who are RAASi naïve defined as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%; ≥1 in/outpatient heart failure visit, first RAASi (sacubitril/valsartan, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor [ACEI]), or angiotensin-II receptor blocker [ARB]) fill from July 2015 to June 2019.

Patients' Experiences in Transitioning to Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis: Qualitative Interviews.

Introduction: Critical gaps exist in the understanding of the continuum of multiple sclerosis (MS) progression, particularly with regard to the patient experience prior to and during the transition from relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) to secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) stages. To date, there are no clear diagnostic criteria in the determination of the clinical transition. We report here the use of patient experience data to support the development of a qualitative conceptual model of MS that describes the patient journey of transition from active-relapsing disease to progressive MS.

Recent Advances in Multimetal and Doped Transition-Metal Phosphides for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at Different pH values.

Hydrogen is a fuel with a potentially zero-carbon footprint viewed as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. It can be produced in a large scale via electrochemical water splitting using electricity derived from renewable sources, but this would require highly active, inexpensive, and stable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts to replace the Pt benchmark. Transition-metal phosphides (TMPs) are potential Pt replacements owing to their generally high activity as well as versatility as HER catalysts for different pH media.

Health care resource utilization and disease modifying treatment use in multiple sclerosis patients by age and insurance type.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe and compare health care resource utilization (HCRU) and disease modifying treatment (DMT) use among US adults <65 years with multiple sclerosis (MS), across commercial and Medicare Advantage plans.

Methods: Medical and pharmacy claims data from commercial and Medicare Advantage with Part D (MAPD) plans were extracted for MS patients age 18 - 64 identified between 1 January 2014 and 31 May 2017. Comparisons were made between commercial and MAPD enrollees for all-cause HCRU and DMT use over 1 year, overall and by 5 year age groups.

Characteristics and Healthcare Utilization Among Veterans Treated for Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction Who Switched to Sacubitril/Valsartan.

Background: US guidelines recommend that patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), who tolerate an ACEI (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) or ARB (angiotensin II receptor blocker), be switched to sacubitril/valsartan to reduce morbidity and mortality. We compared characteristics and healthcare utilization between Veterans with HFrEF who were switched to sacubitril/valsartan versus maintained on an ACEI or ARB.

Methods: retrospective cohort study of treated HFrEF (July 2015-June 2017) using Veterans Affairs data.

An Early View of Real-World Patient Response to Sacubitril/Valsartan: A Retrospective Study of Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

Introduction: Sacubitril/valsartan has been established as an effective treatment for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction based on clinical trial data; however, little is known about its use or impact in real-world practice.

Methods: This study included data from medical and pharmacy claims and medical records review for patients (n = 200) who initiated sacubitril/valsartan between August 2015 and March 2016 preceding issuance of American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA)/Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) focused update on new pharmacological therapy for HF (May 2016), which included recommendations for sacubitril/valsartan. A within-subject analysis compared symptoms and healthcare resource utilization before and after treatment initiation.

Cobalt-Assisted Morphology and Assembly Control of Co-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles.

The morphology of metal oxide nanostructures influences the response of the materials in a given application. In addition to changing the composition, doping can also modify the morphology of a host nanomaterial. Herein, we determine the effect of dopant concentration, reaction temperature, and reaction time on the morphology and assembly of CoZnO nanoparticles synthesized through non-aqueous sol-gel in benzyl alcohol.

Synthesis of Nickel Phosphide Electrocatalysts from Hybrid Metal Phosphonates.

Transition-metal phosphides (TMPs) have recently emerged as efficient and inexpensive electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting. The synthesis of nanostructured phosphides often involves highly reactive and hazardous phosphorous-containing compounds. Herein, we report the synthesis of nickel phosphides through thermal treatment under H(5%)/Ar of layered nickel phenylphosphonate (NiPh) or methylphosphonate (NiMe) that act as single-source precursors.

Healthcare Costs Among Patients with Heart Failure: A Comparison of Costs between Matched Decedent and Survivor Cohorts.

Introduction: Prior research suggests increased costs during the final months of life, yet little is known about healthcare cost differences between patients with heart failure (HF) who die or survive.

Methods: A retrospective claims study from a large US health plan [commercial and Medicare Advantage with Part D (MAPD)] was conducted. Patients were ≥18 years old with two non-inpatient or one inpatient claim(s) with HF diagnosis code(s).

Health Care Costs for Patients with Heart Failure Escalate Nearly 3-Fold in Final Months of Life.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a severe chronic disease with growing prevalence and health care burden as well as high mortality. End-of-life cost data for patients with HF may inform disease and medication therapy management.

Objectives: To (a) characterize a real-world sample of patients with HF who died; (b) estimate health care costs for 6 months and semiannually for 24 months, before death; and (c) examine associations between patient characteristics and predeath health care costs.

Stabilization of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles at the Surface of Carbon Nanomaterials Promoted by Microwave Heating.

TiO2 is frequently combined with carbon materials, such as reduced graphene oxide (RGO), to produce composites with improved properties, for example for photocatalytic applications. It is shown that heating conditions significantly affect the interface and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 @C, and that microwave irradiation can be advantageous for the synthesis of carbon-based materials. Composites of TiO2 with RGO or amorphous carbon were prepared from reaction of titanium isopropoxide with benzyl alcohol.

Mimicking pregnancy as a strategy for breast cancer prevention.

Pregnancy and its effects on breast cancer risk have been widely investigated; there is consensus among researchers that early pregnancy confers protection against breast cancer later in life, whereas nulliparity and late-age parity have been associated with increased risk of developing breast cancer. The answer to the question of how pregnancy reduces breast cancer risk has been elusive; however, pregnancy, like breast cancer, is a similar hormone-dependent entity under direct control of estrogen, progesterone and, of particular importance, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In this report, we emphasize the main changes, previously described by our laboratory, in morphology and gene expression levels of the mammary gland of Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to known cancer-preventative conditions (pregnancy, hCG and progesterone + estrogen).

Sulfonated graphene oxide as effective catalyst for conversion of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural into biofuels.

The acid-catalyzed reaction of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural with ethanol is a promising route to produce biofuels or fuel additives within the carbohydrate platform; specifically, this reaction may give 5-ethoxymethylfurfural, 5-(ethoxymethyl)furfural diethylacetal, and/or ethyl levulinate (bioEs). It is shown that sulfonated, partially reduced graphene oxide (S-RGO) exhibits a more superior catalytic performance for the production of bioEs than several other acid catalysts, which include sulfonated carbons and the commercial acid resin Amberlyst-15, which has a much higher sulfonic acid content and stronger acidity. This was attributed to the cooperative effects of the sulfonic acid groups and other types of acid sites (e.

Adsorption of n-pentane on mesoporous silica and adsorbent deformation.

Development of quantitative theory of adsorption-induced deformation is important, e.g., for enhanced coalbed methane recovery by CO2 injection.

Defining the genomic signature of the parous breast.

Background: It is accepted that a woman's lifetime risk of developing breast cancer after menopause is reduced by early full term pregnancy and multiparity. This phenomenon is thought to be associated with the development and differentiation of the breast during pregnancy.

Methods: In order to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of pregnancy induced breast cancer protection, we profiled and compared the transcriptomes of normal breast tissue biopsies from 71 parous (P) and 42 nulliparous (NP) healthy postmenopausal women using Affymetrix Human Genome U133 Plus 2.

Room-temperature hydrogen sensing with heteronanostructures based on reduced graphene oxide and tin oxide.

There's something in the air … A nanocomposite consisting of well-dispersed SnO(2) and Pt nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide (see the high-resolution TEM image) exhibited very high responses to hydrogen at concentrations between 0.5 and 3% in air, with response times of 3-7 s and recovery times of 2-6 s. The sensor was prepared by a straightforward microwave-assisted non-aqueous sol-gel approach.

Volatile organic compound adsorption on a nonporous silica surface: how do different probe molecules sense the same surface?

In this work, we compare experimental results to molecular simulation results of volatile organic compound (VOC) adsorption on nonporous silica. We adopted an effective model for the rough solid surface, obtained by a temperature annealing scheme, plus an experimental/simulation nitrogen adsorption tuning process over the silica energetic oxygen parameter. The measurement/prediction of selected VOCs, specifically, n-pentane and methylcyclohexane, is presented in terms of adsorption isotherms, with an emphasis on the angle distribution analysis of the three studied probe molecules with respect to the same modeled surface.

Blood pressure outcomes in patients receiving angiotensin II receptor blockers in primary care: a comparative effectiveness analysis from electronic medical record data.

The authors examined the comparative effectiveness of 4 angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with hypertension using a large electronic medical record database. Analysis of covariance and logistic multivariate regression models were used to estimate the blood pressure (BP) outcomes of 73,012 patients during 13 months of treatment with olmesartan, losartan, valsartan, and irbesartan. Results were adjusted by baseline BP, starting dose, year, age, sex, race, body mass index, comorbid conditions, and concomitant medications of patients.

Pregnancy-induced chromatin remodeling in the breast of postmenopausal women.

Early pregnancy and multiparity are known to reduce the risk of women to develop breast cancer at menopause. Based on the knowledge that the differentiation of the breast induced by the hormones of pregnancy plays a major role in this protection, this work was performed with the purpose of identifying what differentiation-associated molecular changes persist in the breast until menopause. Core needle biopsies (CNB) obtained from the breast of 42 nulliparous (NP) and 71 parous (P) postmenopausal women were analyzed in morphology, immunocytochemistry and gene expression.

Characterization of a genomic signature of pregnancy identified in the breast.

The objective of this study was to comprehensively compare the genomic profiles in the breast of parous and nulliparous postmenopausal women to identify genes that permanently change their expression following pregnancy. The study was designed as a two-phase approach. In the discovery phase, we compared breast genomic profiles of 37 parous with 18 nulliparous postmenopausal women.

Correlates of sexually related personal distress in women with low sexual desire.

Introduction: Sexual distress is an important component of diagnostic criteria for sexual dysfunctions, but little is known about the factors associated with sexual distress in women with low sexual desire.

Aim: To investigate the correlates of sexual distress in women with self-reported low sexual desire.

Methods: The Prevalence of Female Sexual Problems Associated with Distress and Determinants of Treatment Seeking study was a cross-sectional, nationally representative, mailed survey of U.

Help-seeking behavior of women with self-reported distressing sexual problems.

Objective: The objective was to describe the healthcare and information-seeking behavior of women with self-reported sexual problems and accompanying sexually related personal distress identified from a large, population-based U.S. survey.