A preliminary pharmacogenetic investigation of adverse events from topiramate in heavy drinkers.

Topiramate, an anticonvulsant medication, is an efficacious treatment for alcohol dependence. To date, little is known about genetic moderators of side effects from topiramate. The objective of this study was to examine 3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the glutamate receptor GluR5 gene (GRIK1) as predictors of topiramate-induced side effects in the context of a laboratory study of topiramate. Heavy drinkers (n = 51, 19 women and 32 men), 75% of whom met criteria for an alcohol use disorder, completed a 5-week dose escalation schedule to a target dose of either 200 or 300 mg or matched placebo. The combined medication groups were compared with placebo-treated individuals for side effects at target dose. Analyses revealed that an SNP in intron 9 of the GRIK1 gene (rs2832407) was associated with the severity of topiramate-induced side effects and with serum levels of topiramate. Genes underlying glutamatergic neurotransmission, such as the GRIK1 gene, may help predict heterogeneity in topiramate-induced side effects. Future studies in larger samples are needed to more fully establish these preliminary findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A portable data system for reindeer herd management

A portable computer system is described which supports timely data management for reindeer herding. An initial version has been in use for two years, supporting research on reindeer diseases. Versions are being developed which will expand the system to support commercial herd management. The hardware system is integrated from commercially available equipment. The software is currently composed of a set of ten programs, with others under development for enhancements and modifications. At field roundups, the computer allows new animals to be added to the data base plus rapid access to information on existing individual animals. Historical information can be displayed, including detailed historical records of reproductive activity, medical treatments, serological exam results, and observations of anomalies (e.g. infections, injuries, etc.). In the field, or in the lab, the data base may be accessed for information on specific animals and for summaries of herd data.     

Introducing the prebound effect: the gap between performance and actual energy consumption

German regulations for the thermal renovation of existing homes demand high thermal standards, which the government claims are technically and economically feasible. This paper examines existing data on 3400 German homes; their calculated energy performance ratings (EPR) are then plotted against the actual measured consumption. The results indicate that occupants consume, on average, 30% less heating energy than the calculated rating. This phenomenon is identified as the ‘prebound’ effect and increases with the calculated rating. The opposite phenomenon, the rebound effect, tends to occur for low-energy dwellings, where occupants consume more than the rating. A similar phenomenon has been recognized in recent Dutch, Belgian, French and UK studies, suggesting policy implications in two directions. Firstly, using a dwelling's energy rating to predict fuel and CO₂ savings through retrofits tends to overestimate savings, underestimate the payback time and possibly discourage cost-effective, incremental improvements. Secondly, the potential fuel and CO₂ savings through non-technical measures such as occupant behaviour may well be far larger than is generally assumed in policies so policy-makers need a better understanding of what drives or inhibits occupants' decisions.

La réglementation allemande relative à la rénovation thermique des logements existants exige des normes thermiques élevées, que le gouvernement prétend être techniquement et économiquement applicables. Cet article examine les données existantes sur 3400 logements allemands; leurs classes d'efficacité énergétique (CEE) calculées sont ensuite comparées à la consommation réelle mesurée. Les résultats indiquent que les occupants consomment, en moyenne, 30 % d'énergie de chauffage en moins que la classe calculée. Ce phénomène est identifié en raison de l'accroissement de l'effet de « pré-bond » avec la classe calculée. Le phénomène opposé, l'effet de rebond, tend à se produire dans les logements à basse consommation d'énergie, dans lesquels les occupants ont une consommation supérieure à la classe. Un phénomène similaire a été reconnu dans des études récentes néerlandaises, belges, françaises et britanniques, suggérant des implications en termes de politiques dans deux directions. En premier lieu, l'utilisation de la classe énergétique d'un logement pour prévoir les économies de combustible et de CO₂ pouvant être obtenues grâce à des rénovations a tendance à surestimer les économies, à sous-estimer le délai d'amortissement et éventuellement à dissuader d'effectuer des améliorations incrémentielles rentables. En second lieu, les économies potentielles de combustible et de CO₂ pouvant être obtenues par des mesures non techniques telles que le comportement des occupants peuvent se révéler être bien plus importantes que cela n'est supposé en règle générale dans les politiques, de sorte que les décideurs ont besoin de mieux comprendre ce qui motive ou empêche les décisions des occupants.

Mots clés: performance des bâtiments, rénovations thermiques, politique climatique, classe énergétique, politique énergétique, comportement de consommation énergétique     

Synthesis of Vegetable Fat Containing Chitosan Microparticles with Improved Physical and Delivery Properties

The present study describes the encapsulation of vegetable fats (cocoa butter and mango butter) within chitosan microparticles by double emulsion technique to prevent leaching of the internal apolar phase. Leaching studies suggested negligible leaching of the internal phase (～12–14%) when the fats were encapsulated as compared to the control (～40%). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimeter studies confirmed the successful encapsulation of fats. The release of drug (ciprofloxacin) from the microparticles was diffusion and erosion mediated and were capable to elicit antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. The study suggests that the developed microparticles have the potential for controlled delivery of antimicrobials.     

Morphology and thermal properties of recycled polyacrylonitrile fiber blends with poly(ethylene terephthalate): Microstructural characterization

The compounding of rPAN/PET [polyacrylonitrile/poly(ethylene terephthalate]; 30/70, 50/50, and 70/30 wt %) using a melt‐blending technique was the main focus of this investigation. An X‐ray diffraction study indicated the possibility of interphase boundary interactions between the polymer matrices in the blends. The differential scanning calorimetry results showed that varying the ratios of rPAN in the blends marginally improved the processing temperature of PET. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the addition of PET up to 70% increased the thermal stability of the blend, and adding more than 70% of PET resulted in poor adhesion between the matrix and phase. On the basis of the results obtained, we propose a general understanding of how the morphology and the mechanical and thermal properties of the blend could assist in the development of rPAN blends with PET, rather than disposing of the viable materials as wastes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43777.     

Palm oil‐based organogels and microemulsions for delivery of antimicrobial drugs

This study has been designed to develop palm oil (PO) based organogels using span 80/tween 80 mixture (OG) as a gelator system by fluid‐filled structure mechanism. The results suggested formation of organogels, emulsions, and microemulsions as the proportions of PO, OG and water were varied. The emulsions were found to be thermodynamically unstable as compared to the organogels and the microemulsions. Accelerated thermal stability test suggested that all the microemulsions and the organogels of only eight compositions were stable. The organogels showed viscoelastic property while the microemulsions showed viscous flow behavior. Both the organogels and the microemulsions were found to be highly hemocompatible and nonirritant. The antimicrobial efficiency of the ciprofloxacin HCl‐loaded formulations showed equivalent efficiency as compared to marketed formulations. The rates of drug release from the organogels were found to be relatively slower as compared to the microemulsions. The preliminary studies suggested that the developed organogel and microemulsion‐based formulations may be tried for topical delivery of antimicrobials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 39979.     

A combined experimental and theoretical approach to establish the relationship between shear force and clay platelet delamination in melt-processed polypropylene nanocomposites

In this article, a combined experimental and theoretical approach has been proposed to establish a relationship between the required shear force and the degree of delamination of clay tactoids during the melt-processing of polymer nanocomposites. Polypropylene (PP) was selected as a model polymer, and nanocomposites of PP with organically modified clay were prepared by a master batch dilution technique in a twin-screw extruder. The effect of PP throughput during the dilution of the master batch on the dispersion and orientation of clay platelets were studied in detail. Powder X-ray diffraction, small and wide angle X-ray scattering and high resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to study the structure and morphology of the obtained nanocomposites. The results showed that a lower feeding rate led to the orientation of clay platelets almost in the direction of extrusion. The adhesive force and the interaction energy between the clay platelets were theoretically calculated using the Hamaker approach. The analysis showed that the peeling mechanism is a practical explanation for the delamination of clay platelets during melt extrusion and that the dimensions of the clay platelet tactoids play an important role in the peeling due to the shear stress.     

Improved mechanical and moisture resistance property of in situ polymerized transparent PMMA/Cellulose composites

This article evaluates the role of cellulosic fillers in a synthetic polymer matrix like polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) when incorporated by in situ suspension polymerization technique. Cellulose micro/nanofibers (CNF) were extracted from jute fibers and chemically modified with maleic anhydride (MACNF) to increase their interfacial compatibility with PMMA by participation of the MA moiety in the free radical polymerization with MMA. The effect of incorporating MACNF on the physical and mechanical properties of the PMMA matrix was investigated. Optical transparency was retained in the in situ prepared PMMA/cellulose composites (IPMC) similar to that of unreinforced PMMA. Another set of PMMA/cellulose composites was prepared by dispersing MACNF in PMMA matrix by ex situ solution dispersion method (EPMC). The modification of CNF with MA significantly improved the filler/matrix interfacial compatibility and in situ polymerization technique further enhanced the properties of the composites. The high moisture absorption tendency, which is a major drawback of the cellulose filled composites, remarkably reduced in IPMC. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1748–1758, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers