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Objectives Health systems (nonfederal hospitals and clinics) are the second major source for drug expenditure in the United States. Opioids prescribed in these healthcare settings are commonly short-acting opioids that can lead to persistent opioid use. Nevertheless, there are no national data that describe trends in opioid use and the associated expenditure in health systems. Therefore, the objective of this article was to describe opioid use and expenditures in US health systems from 2015 to 2019. Methods We used data from IQVIA National Sales Perspectives to describe prescription opioid expenditure and use in health systems (nonfederal hospitals and clinics). Results Over the 5-year study period, health systems dispensed a total of 6.55 billion units of opioids (26.88% decrease) with an associated expenditure of $3.33 billion (26.78% decrease). Relative to all opioid formulations in our study, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl were the opioids with the highest use in US health systems. All opioid prescriptions decreased except fentanyl use, which increased by 29.80% in clinics. The use of abuse-deterrent formulations of opioids decreased by 51.00% over the study period, although the decrease seems to be driven mainly by long-acting oxycodone (brand name Oxycontin). Conclusions Opioid use and expenditures in health systems have been decreasing following national trends from retail pharmacies. Nevertheless, fentanyl use increased in clinics and was prescribed at higher proportions in nonfederal hospitals than other opioids, which warrants further investigation.

Purpose To report historical patterns of pharmaceutical expenditures, to identify factors that may influence future spending, and to predict growth in drug spending in 2021 in the United States, with a focus on the nonfederal hospital and clinic sectors. Methods Historical patterns were assessed by examining data on drug purchases from manufacturers using the IQVIA National Sales Perspectives database. Factors that may influence drug spending in hospitals and clinics in 2021 were reviewed—including new drug approvals, patent expirations, and potential new policies or legislation. Focused analyses were conducted for biosimilars, cancer drugs, generics, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic influence, and specialty drugs. For nonfederal hospitals, clinics, and overall (all sectors), estimates of growth of pharmaceutical expenditures in 2021 were based on a combination of quantitative analyses and expert opinion. Results In 2020, overall pharmaceutical expenditures in the United States grew 4.9% compared to 2019, for a total of $535.3 billion. Utilization (a 2.9% increase) and new drugs (a 1.8% increase) drove this increase, with price changes having minimal influence (a 0.3% increase). Adalimumab was the top drug in 2020, followed by apixaban and insulin glargine. Drug expenditures were $35.3 billion (a 4.6% decrease) and $98.4 billion (an 8.1% increase) in nonfederal hospitals and clinics, respectively. In clinics, growth was driven by new products and increased utilization, whereas in hospitals the decrease in expenditures was driven by reduced utilization. Several new drugs that will influence spending are expected to be approved in 2021. Specialty and cancer drugs will continue to drive expenditures along with the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion For 2021, we expect overall prescription drug spending to rise by 4% to 6%, whereas in clinics and hospitals we anticipate increases of 7% to 9% and 3% to 5%, respectively, compared to 2020. These national estimates of future pharmaceutical expenditure growth may not be representative of any particular health system because of the myriad of local factors that influence actual spending.

During pregnancy many agents can be teratogenic i.e. can be dangerous for embryo or fetus and cause differentiated adverse effects. Teratogenic agents include substances (e.g. many pharmaceuticals, mycotoxins – e.g. aflatoxins and ochratoxin A), radiation (e.g. X/RTG, γ) and infectious agents. The latter include bacteria (e.g. Listeria monocytogenes, Treponema pallidum), protozoa (e.g. Toxoplasma gondii) and viruses (e.g. ZIKV, parvovirus B19, herpesviruses: CMV, HSV, VZV). Quite a few pathogens can be vertically transmitted, i.e. through placenta (poorly understood mechanism), but not all are typical teratogenic agents (TORCH group). Infection during gestation can be oligosymptomatic or asymptomatic for the mother, nevertheless can also be fatal for the child, causing among others IUGR, SNHL, malformation (e.g. microcephaly, limb defects), abortion. Some (but not all) of these abnormalities can be non-invasively diagnosed by ultrasonography (USG) and prevented by vaccination (in case of the rubella and varicella). In some countries routine serological diagnostics for selected pathogens are performed during pregnancy. Generally transplacental transmission occur mostly during initial (primary) infection and are most dangerous during the first and second trimester (intensive morphogenesis and organogenesis). Conversely chance of fetus infection usually increases with time and is highest in the third trimester. 1. Introduction. 2. Placenta. 3. Preterm delivery and vaginosis. 4. TORCH group. 5. Teratogenic microorganisms and viruses. 5.1. Bacteria. 5.2. Protozoa. 5.3. Viruses. 6. Mycotoxins. 6.1. Description of selected mycotoxins. 7. Summary

Purpose To report historical patterns of pharmaceutical expenditures, to identify factors that may influence future spending, and to predict growth in drug spending in 2020 in the United States, with a focus on the nonfederal hospital and clinic sectors. Methods Historical patterns were assessed by examining data on drug purchases from manufacturers using the IQVIA National Sales Perspectives database. Factors that may influence drug spending in hospitals and clinics in 2020 were reviewed, including new drug approvals, patent expirations, and potential new policies or legislation. Focused analyses were conducted for specialty drugs, biosimilars, and diabetes medications. For nonfederal hospitals, clinics, and overall (all sectors), estimates of growth of pharmaceutical expenditures in 2020 were based on a combination of quantitative analyses and expert opinion. Results In 2019, overall US pharmaceutical expenditures grew 5.4% compared to 2018, for a total of $507.9 billion. This increase was driven to similar degrees by prices, utilization, and new drugs. Adalimumab was the top drug in US expenditures in 2019, followed by apixaban and insulin glargine. Drug expenditures were $36.9 billion (a 1.5% increase from 2018) and $90.3 billion (an 11.8% increase from 2018) in nonfederal hospitals and clinics, respectively. In clinics, growth was driven by new products and increased utilization, whereas in hospitals growth was driven by new products and price increases. Several new drugs that will likely influence spending are expected to be approved in 2020. Specialty and cancer drugs will continue to drive expenditures. Conclusion For 2020 we expect overall prescription drug spending to rise by 4.0% to 6.0%, whereas in clinics and hospitals we anticipate increases of 9.0% to 11.0% and 2.0% to 4.0%, respectively, compared to 2019. These national estimates of future pharmaceutical expenditure growth may not be representative of any particular health system because of the myriad of local factors that influence actual spending.

Purpose: Recent cancer drug approvals are lauded as being more effective with relatively fewer adverse effects, but these treatments come with a great cost to the US health care system. There is little information on recent trends in actual antineoplastic expenditures representative of the whole US health care system or by sector. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe antineoplastic expenditures in the United States by year and sector. Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study of IQVIA (formerly QuintilesIMS) National Sales Perspective data for the period of January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2016. Actual expenditures were totaled by health care sector and calendar year, then adjusted for medical-cost inflation to 2016 dollars. Growth was calculated as the percentage increase from the previous year. Results: Total expenditures of antineoplastic agents across all channels grew from $26.8 billion in 2011 to $42.1 billion in 2016. Antineoplastic spending increased 12.2% in 2016 (compared with the previous year), followed by 15.6% in 2015, 13.4% in 2014, 6.3% in 2013, and 0.4% in 2012. Throughout the study period, 96.5% of total antineoplastic expenditures occurred within clinics, mail-order pharmacies, nonfederal hospitals, and retail pharmacies. Conclusion: Antineoplastic expenditures are expected to increase because of continuing development and approval of costly targeted cancer therapies. Cost containment and utilization management strategies must be balanced so as not to restrict access or disrupt innovation. Future policies should focus on ensuring safe and appropriate use of antineoplastics while balancing long-term drug costs.

Purpose Historical trends and factors likely to influence future pharmaceutical expenditures are discussed, and projections are made for drug spending in 2017 in nonfederal hospitals, clinics, and overall (all sectors). Methods Drug expenditure data through calendar year 2016 were obtained from the QuintilesIMS National Sales Perspectives database and analyzed. Other factors that may influence drug spending in hospitals and clinics in 2017, including new drug approvals and patent expirations, were also reviewed. Expenditure projections for 2017 for nonfederal hospitals, clinics, and overall (all sectors) were made based on a combination of quantitative analyses and expert opinion. Results Total U.S. prescription sales in the 2016 calendar year were $448.2 billion, a 5.8% increase compared with 2015. More than half of the increase resulted from price hikes of existing drugs. Adalimumab was the top drug overall in 2016 expenditures ($13.6 billion); in clinics and nonfederal hospitals, infliximab was the top drug. Prescription expenditures in clinics and nonfederal hospitals totaled $63.7 billion (an 11.9% increase from 2015) and $34.5 billion (a 3.3% increase from 2015), respectively. In nonfederal hospitals and clinics, growth in spending was driven primarily by price increases of existing drugs and increased volume, respectively. Conclusion We project a 6.0–8.0% increase in total drug expenditures across all settings, an 11.0–13.0% increase in clinics, and a 3.0–5.0% increase in hospital drug spending in 2017. Health-system pharmacy leaders should carefully examine their own local drug utilization patterns to determine their own organization’s anticipated spending in 2017.

Study objective New hepatitis C virus (HCV) antivirals have been shown to be highly effective with minimal adverse effects, but they are costly. Little is known, however, about the impact of the new HCV antivirals on expenditures in the overall U.S. health care system or by health care sector. Thus the objective of this study was to describe HCV antiviral expenditures by agent, year, and health care sector. Design Retrospective cross-sectional study. Data source QuintilesIMS National Sales Perspectives database. Measurements and main results QuintilesIMS National Sales Perspectives data for the period of January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2015, were used to describe HCV antiviral expenditures. HCV antiviral expenditures grew each year from $78 million in 2009 to $18 billion in 2015, except during 2013 when spending on HCV drugs dropped by $684 million (41%) compared with 2012. Although most expenditures in 2009 and 2010 were for interferons, this shifted to telaprevir in 2011-2013 and sofosbuvir-containing regimens in 2014-2015. Mail service and community pharmacies were associated with most of the expenditures throughout the study period. Conclusion New HCV antivirals are driving the increased expenditures for this class. Decreased expenditures in 2013 may have been secondary to delaying HCV treatment until new therapies received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (termed "warehousing"). With continued drug development and approval of HCV therapies, expenditures are expected to continue to increase, barring actions by payers that may impede this trend. Medication policies guiding HCV treatment should focus on safety and efficacy while balancing the long-term costs of HCV.

PurposeHistorical trends and factors likely to influence future pharmaceutical expenditures are discussed, and projections are made for drug spending in 2019 in nonfederal hospitals, clinics, and overall (all sectors).MethodsDrug expenditure data through calendar year 2018 were obtained from the IQVIA National Sales Perspectives database and analyzed. New drug approvals, patent expirations, and other factors that may influence drug spending in hospitals and clinics in 2019 were also reviewed. Expenditure projections for 2019 for nonfederal hospitals, clinics, and overall (all sectors) were made through a combination of quantitative analyses and expert opinion.ResultsU.S. prescription sales in calendar year 2018 totaled $476.2 billion, a 5.5% increase from 2017 spending. The top 3 drugs by expenditures were adalimumab ($19.1 billion), insulin glargine ($9.3 billion), and etanercept ($8.0 billion). Prescription expenditures in nonfederal hospitals totaled $35.8 billion, a 4.8% increase from 2017. Expenditures in clinics in 2018 increased by 13.0% to $80.5 billion. The increase in spending in nonfederal hospitals was largely driven by new products and increased utilization of existing products. The list of the top 25 drugs by expenditures in nonfederal hospitals and clinics was dominated by specialty drugs.ConclusionWe predict continued moderate growth of 4–6% in overall drug expenditures (across the entire U.S. market). We expect the clinic sector to continue to experience high (11–13%) growth in drug spending in 2019. Finally, for nonfederal hospitals we anticipate growth in the range of 3–5%. These estimates are at the national level. Health-system pharmacy leaders should carefully examine local drug utilization patterns to determine their own organization’s anticipated spending in 2019.

For the GBAR (Gravitational Behaviour of Antihydrogen at Rest) experiment at CERN's Antiproton Decelerator (AD) facility we have constructed a source of slow positrons, which uses a low-energy electron linear accelerator (linac). The driver linac produces electrons of 9 MeV kinetic energy that create positrons from bremsstrahlung-induced pair production. Staying below 10 MeV ensures no persistent radioactive activation in the target zone and that the radiation level outside the biological shield is safe for public access. An annealed tungsten-mesh assembly placed directly behind the target acts as a positron moderator. The system produces $5\times10^7$ slow positrons per second, a performance demonstrating that a low-energy electron linac is a superior choice over positron-emitting radioactive sources for high positron flux., published in NIM A. 33 pages 9 figures

Purpose Historical trends and factors likely to influence future pharmaceutical expenditures are discussed, and projections are made for drug spending in 2016 in nonfederal hospitals, clinics, and overall (all sectors). Methods Drug expenditure data through calendar year 2015 were obtained from the IMS Health National Sales Perspectives database and analyzed. Other factors that may influence drug spending in hospitals and clinics in 2016, including new drug approvals and patent expirations, were also reviewed. Expenditure projections for 2016 were based on a combination of quantitative analyses and expert opinion. Results Total U.S. prescription sales in the 2015 calendar year were $419.4 billion, which was 11.7% higher than sales in 2014. Prescription expenditures in clinics and nonfederal hospitals totaled $56.7 billion (a 15.9% increase) and $33.6 billion (a 10.7% increase), respectively, in 2015. In nonfederal hospitals, growth in spending was driven primarily by increased prices for existing drugs. The hepatitis C combination drug ledipasvir–sofosbuvir was the top drug overall in terms of 2015 expenditures ($14.3 billion); in both clinics and nonfederal hospitals, infliximab was the top drug. Individual drugs with the greatest increases in expenditures in 2015 were specialty agents and older generics; these agents are likely to continue to influence total spending in 2016. Conclusion We project an 11–13% increase in total drug expenditures overall in 2016, with a 15–17% increase in clinic spending and a 10–12% increase in hospital spending. Health-system pharmacy leaders should carefully examine local drug utilization patterns in projecting their own organization’s drug spending in 2016.

Purpose An analysis of trends in U.S. pharmaceutical spending is presented, including projections for drug expenditures in nonfederal hospital and clinic settings in 2015. Methods Prescription drug expenditure data through September 2014 were obtained from the IMS Health National Sales Perspectives database and were analyzed descriptively. Other factors that may influence prescription spending in hospitals and clinics in 2015, including new drug approvals and patent expirations, were analyzed. Expenditure projections were based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses and expert opinion. Results Total prescription sales for the 12 months ending September 30, 2014, were $360.7 billion, 12.2% higher than during the previous 12 months. With $6.6 billion in expenditures in the first 9 months of 2014, sofosbuvir topped the overall list of drugs based on sales, followed by aripiprazole and insulin glargine. Pharmaceutical spending by clinics and nonfederal hospitals rose by 13.3% and 4.0%, respectively. For the first 9 months of 2014, the top drugs based on expenditures were infliximab, pegfilgrastim, and epoetin alfa in clinics and infliximab, rituximab, and pegfilgrastim in hospitals. Specialty drugs continued to constitute an increasing portion of drug expenditures and will contribute to higher expenditures in 2015. Conclusion Growth in U.S. prescription drug expenditures is expected to continue to increase in 2015. The projected increases in total drug expenditures are 7–9% across all settings, 12–14% in clinics, and 5–7% in hospitals. Health-system pharmacy leaders should carefully examine their own local drug utilization patterns to determine their own organization’s anticipated spending in 2015.

Purpose An analysis of trends in U.S. pharmaceutical spending is presented, including projections for drug expenditures in nonfederal hospital and clinic settings in 2014. Methods Trends in pharmaceutical expenditures and developments likely to influence future spending, including new drug approvals and patent expirations, were analyzed using data from the IMS Health National Sales Perspectives database. Projections were based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses and expert opinion. Results Total prescription sales for the 12 months ending September 2013 were approximately $326 billion, 0.7% lower than sales during the previous 12 months; pharmaceutical spending by clinics and nonfederal hospitals grew by 4.5% and 1.8%, respectively. Vaccines were among the products driving large sales increases in clinic settings, with alteplase and pegfilgrastim topping the list of fast-growing drugs by hospital expenditures. Few new drug approvals anticipated in 2014 are expected to result in major expenditures by hospitals and clinics. Expansion of access to health care and other changes related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as well as continued improvement in the U.S. economy, may drive growth in pharmaceutical spending over the next 12–24 months. Conclusion Growth in U.S. prescription drug expenditures is expected to rebound in 2014, with a projected 3–5% increase in total drug expenditures across all settings this year, including a 5–7% increase in clinic spending and a 1–3% increase in hospital spending. Health-system pharmacy leaders should carefully examine local drug-utilization patterns to determine their respective organization’s anticipated spending in 2014.

Polycrystalline samples of LuAs with a residual resistivity ratio (RRR) between 2.52 and 3.38 were examined by: X-ray diffraction, magnetisation, resistivity, magnetoresistivity, Hall coefficient and thermoelectric power S(T), in addition to the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of 75As and 175Lu nuclei. The density and mobility of carriers for the valence and conduction bands were determined for the RRR = 2.52 sample and used for the calculation of thermoelectric power, Sc(T). The value of Sc(T) fits well with that determined by experiment. The sample shows a charge imbalance with the number of electrons n, (holes, p) equal to 1.52 × 1020 (1.12 × 1020) e/cm3 at 4 K. This imbalance decreases with temperature, reversing after passing a minimum at ∼80 K and then increasing to n (p) = 9.4 × 1019 (1.42 × 1020) e/cm3 at 300 K. The 75As NMR Knight shift is found to be temperature independent and equal to 0.102% and the 175Lu NMR resonance frequency is shifted to higher values by ca. 0.011% with respect to that of LuSb. All data indicate that LuAs belongs to semimetals and the clearly observed 175Lu NMR multiquadrupolar echoes suggest the existence of defects in the cubic structure of the investigated samples.

International audience; This communication reports the very first experimental results on an original wireless, chipless and passive (battery-less) sensor for monitoring high doses of nuclear radiation. The micro-sensor combines a miniature hydrogen pressure dosimeter with a passive microwave resonator. The pressure response is derived from S11-parameter measurement using vacuum and atmospheric pressure conditions. After e-beam irradiation (20kGy) the resonant frequency shift of the resonator ranges between 0.12%/kGy and 0.42%/kGy while the hydrogen pressure inside the cavity varies from 20mbar/kGy to 90mbar/kGy. No significant frequency shift is observed when using sensors during 6 months. These results demonstrate that a good hydrogen hermetic seal was fabricated during the manufacturing process of the constitutive micro-cavity.

Iron-based superconductors Ba0.7Rb0.3Fe2As2 and CaFe1.92Co0.08As2 of the ‘122’ family have been investigated by means of the 14.41-keV Mossbauer transition in Fe versus temperature ranging from the room temperature till 4.2 K. A comparison is made with the previously investigated parent compounds BaFe2As2 and CaFe2As2. It has been found that Mossbauer spectra of these superconductors are composed of the magnetically split component due to development of spin density wave (SDW) and non-magnetic component surviving even at lowest temperatures. The latter component is responsible for superconductivity. Hence, the superconductivity occurs in the part of the sample despite the sample is single phase. This phenomenon is caused by the slight variation of the dopant concentration across the sample (crystal).

The spectra of the real and imaginary components of the complex refractive index were determined in the NIR and MIR regions for liquid Benzylidenemethylamine and intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded o-Hydroxybenzylidenemethylamine from transmission studies using a method, which takes into account the dispersion of the refractive index in the Visible range and requires integration over the entire NIR and MIR region. From these data the spectra of both components of the complex electric permittivity and complex polarizability of both liquids were determined in the Visible, Near Infrared, and Mid Infrared spectral regions (25,000–600 cm−1). The molar vibrational polarization related to various spectral ranges has been determined. The considerable contribution due to the formed intramolecular H-bonding has been evaluated and discussed.

Purpose Drug expenditure trends in 2008 and 2009, projected drug expenditures for 2010, and factors likely to influence drug expenditures are discussed. Summary Various factors are likely to influence drug expenditures in 2010, including drugs in development, the diffusion of new drugs, generic drugs, health care reform, drug safety concerns, and comparative effectiveness research. The increasing availability of important generic drugs continues to moderate growth in drug expenditures. Health care reform initiatives, including the potential for biosimilars legislation, will influence drug expenditures in all settings. From 2007 to 2008, total U.S. drug expenditures increased by 1.8%, with total spending rising from $279.6 billion to $284.7 billion. Growth in drug expenditures in clinics declined to the lowest level in a decade, a 1.0% increase from 2007 to 2008. Hospital drug expenditures increased at a moderate rate of only 2.1% from 2007 to 2008; through the first nine months of 2009, hospital drug expenditures increased by 3.0% compared with the same period in 2008. Conclusion In 2010, we project a 3–5% increase in drug expenditures in outpatient settings, a 6–8% increase in expenditures for clinic-administered drugs, and a 2–4% increase in hospital drug expenditures.

As part of a structure–activity exploration into LHRH antagonists, structures containing the thieno[2,3-b]pyrrole core were identified as potent antagonists. This letter describes the employment of the Fischer synthesis to access this thienopyrrole and isomeric final compounds.

Purpose. Drug expenditure trends in 2007 and 2008, projected drug expenditures for 2009, and factors likely to influence drug expenditures are discussed. Summary. Various factors are likely to influence drug expenditures in 2009, including drugs in development, the diffusion of new drugs, drug safety concerns, generic drugs, Medicare Part D, and changes in the drug supply chain. The increasing availability of important generic drugs and drug safety concerns continue to moderate growth in drug expenditures. The drug supply chain remains dynamic and may influence drug expenditures, particularly in specialized therapeutic areas. Initial data suggest that the Medicare Part D benefit has influenced drug expenditures, but the ultimate impact of the benefit on drug expenditures remains unclear. From 2006 to 2007, total U.S. drug expenditures increased by 4.0%, with total spending rising from $276 billion to $287 billion. Drug expenditures in clinics continue to grow more rapidly than in other settings, with a 9.9% increase from 2006 to 2007. Hospital drug expenditures increased at a moderate rate of only 1.6% from 2006 to 2007; through the first nine months of 2008, hospital drug expenditures increased by only 2.8% compared with the same period in 2007. Conclusion. In 2009, we project a 0–2% increase in drug expenditures in outpatient settings, a 1–3% increase in expenditures for clinic-administered drugs, and a 1–3% increase in hospital drug expenditures.

Purpose The accuracy of the forecasts of drug expenditures in nonfederal hospitals and clinics published annually in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy (AJHP) relative to the accuracy of forecasts produced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was evaluated. Methods AJHP -published forecasts of drug expenditure growth for nonfederal hospitals (for the years 2003 through 2013) and clinics (for the years 2004 through 2013) were compared with data on actual growth. Data on actual and projected growth published by CMS were analyzed for the years 2003 through 2012. The mean absolute error and directional accuracy of the forecasts published in AJHP for nonfederal hospitals and clinics and the CMS forecasts were determined and compared. Results Actual spending growth was within the range of the forecast published in AJHP for 2 of 11 years for nonfederal hospitals and for 3 of 10 years for clinics; the forecasts for nonfederal hospitals and clinics were directionally accurate 27.3% and 60.0% of the time, respectively. The mean absolute errors of the AJHP -published drug expenditure forecasts for the nonfederal hospital and clinic sectors were 2.0 and 4.7 percentage points, respectively. The CMS forecasts of overall drug spending were directionally accurate 70% of the time, and the mean absolute error (2.2 percentage points) was not statistically different from that of either sector forecast published in AJHP . Conclusion The annual drug expenditure forecasts published in AJHP have been reasonably accurate for predicting growth in prescription expenditures when compared with other available drug expenditure forecasts.

The spectrum of the complex refractive index in the NIR and MIR regions was determined for liquid benzylidenemethylamine and intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded 2-hydroxybenzylidenemethylamine from transmission studies. In the MIR region very thin layers with thicknesses of a few micrometers had to be used to obtain reliable data. FT-Raman spectra of the liquids are also reported. Numerous bands were identified in both liquids basing on literature data and results of calculations. The effect of H-bond formation on the shift and intensity changes of bands were discusssed.

The high dose measurement techniques are of the great interest in nuclear engineering for both, industrial and academic community. Related to these very harsh environment, today sensors solutions are based on external post analysis that not allow real time monitoring. Wireless monitoring of fully chipless passive sensors has been demonstrated for the first time using miniaturized HPD (Hydrogen Pressure Dosimitry) solution. We obtained micrometric silicon membrane deflection for several ten of kGy using 6MeV electron beam.)

The nep number in yarn depends on both the nep number in the raw material and changes in the number and size of neps in the spinning process. Therefore, the two problems need to be analyzed separately. The first problem consists of testing the value changes of some cotton parameters on different processing stages, which influence the appearance and quality of rotor yarns made from different raw materials. The second problem is an analysis of the reasons for mechanical nep creation in raw materials and during processing. In order to explain the phenomenon of mechanical nep formation, which in our opinion is related to fiber buckling, we derive the theoretical relationship between the cotton fiber maturity parameter, called the coefficient of circularity, and the minimal inertia radius of a fiber cross section, assuming both ellipse and flattened ring shapes of fiber cross sections. The correlation coefficients between the mechanical nep number and the other cotton fiber parameters are determined. The minimal inertia radius and maturity ratio are significantly correlated with the mechanical nep number in raw material. We can draw a hypothesis that the minimal inertia radius and fiber slenderness are the most relevant parameters for mechanical nep formation during processing.

International audience; New MEMS sensor for detection of high doses (above 10 kGy) of radiation has been presented. The sensor is made of silicon and glass in a form of anodically bonded sandwich 9 × 16 × 2.6 mm3. The sensor contains chamber with small portion of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and thin silicon membrane. Irradiation releases gaseous hydrogen, which flows from the chamber to the membrane. For known radiation dose pressure of hydrogen destroys the membrane, what is optically noticed. The sensor show good detectability of doses of radiation up to 120 kGy.

Purpose Factors likely to influence drug expenditures, drug expenditure trends in 2012, and projected drug expenditures for U.S. nonfederal hospitals and clinics in 2013 are discussed. Methods Prescription drug expenditure data for 2011 through September 2012 were obtained from the IMS Health National Sales Perspectives database. Expenditure projections were based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses, combined with expert opinion. Results Total prescription sales in the United States for the 12-month period ending September 2012 were $326.0 billion, a 0.8% increase from the previous 12 months. This rate of growth was the lowest in recent history and can be attributed to modest increases in expenditures for new products (3.3%) and the prices of existing products (5.9%), coupled with a marked decline in overall volume and mix (−8.4%). For the 9 months ending in September 2012, total prescription expenditures grew 2.7% when compared with the same period in 2011. Oncology products remained important expenditures for hospitals and clinics. Antineoplastic agents were the top medication class for expenditures in nonfederal hospitals, and oncology products accounted for 32.2% of drug expenditures in the clinic setting in the first 9 months of 2012. Conclusion For 2013, we project a 1–3% increase in total drug expenditures across all settings, a 2–4% increase in expenditures for clinic-administered drugs, and a 0.5% decline to 1.5% increase in hospital drug expenditures. Health-system pharmacy leaders should carefully examine their own local drug-utilization patterns to determine their own organization’s drug expenditure forecast. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 2013; 70:525–39

Nuclear spectroscopy experiments were performed for 100 g metallic uranium rod enriched to 93% 235U, in order to establish and characterize the most prominent γ -rays in the natural decay series and photofission reaction. Single γ -ray spectra and γ – γ coincidences measurements were conducted before irradiation. The uranium sample was subsequently irradiated with 15 MeV bremsstrahlung photons. Relative intensities of γ -lines and several values of half-lives of the fission fragments decays were determined. The obtained information can be utilized in detection of smuggled nuclear materials and characterization of bulky nuclear waste packages.

Purpose Factors likely to influence drug expenditures, drug expenditure trends in 2010 and 2011, and projected drug expenditures for 2012 are discussed. Summary Data were analyzed to provide drug expenditure trends for total drug expenditures and the hospital and clinic sectors. Data were obtained from the IMS Health National Sales Perspectives database. From 2009 to 2010, total U.S. drug expenditures increased by 2.7%, with total spending rising from $299.2 billion to $307.5 billion. Drug expenditures in clinics grew by 6.0% from 2009 to 2010. Hospital drug expenditures increased at the moderate rate of 1.5% from 2009 to 2010; through the first nine months of 2011, hospital drug expenditures increased by only 0.3% compared with the same period in 2010. The dominant trend over the past several years is substantial moderation in expenditure growth for widely used drugs, primarily due to the ongoing introduction and wide use of generic versions of high-cost, frequently used medications. At the end of 2010, generic drugs accounted for 78% of all retail prescriptions dispensed. Another pattern is substantial increases in expenditures for specialized medications, particularly in the outpatient setting as growth in prescription drug expenditures for clinic-administered drugs consistently outpaces growth in total expenditures. Various factors are likely to influence drug expenditures in 2012, including drugs in development, the diffusion of new drugs, generic drugs, drug shortages, and biosimilars. Conclusion For 2012, we project a 3–5% increase in total drug expenditures across all settings, a 5–7% increase in expenditures for clinic-administered drugs, and a 0–2% increase in hospital drug expenditures.

PURPOSE. Drug expenditure trends in 2009 and 2010, projected drug expenditures for 2011, and factors likely to influence drug expenditures are discussed. SUMMARY. Various factors are likely to influence drug expenditures in 2011, including drugs in development, the diffusion of new drugs, generic drugs, health care reform, and biosimilars. Two distinct patterns of drug expenditures continue to exist. The dominant trend over the past several years is substantial moderation in expenditure growth for widely used drugs, primarily due to the ongoing introduction of generic medications for high-cost, frequently used medications and the influence of the economic downturn. The second pattern is substantial increases in expenditures for specialized medications, particularly in the outpatient setting. The influence of health care reform, the economy, and the emergence of biosimilars will be important trends to follow over the next several years, but they are unlikely to have substantial impact on drug expenditures in 2011. From 2008 to 2009, total U.S. drug expenditures increased by 5.2%, with total spending rising from $284.8 billion to $299.5 billion. Growth in drug expenditures in clinics grew by 5.1% from 2008 to 2009. Hospital drug expenditures increased at the moderate rate of 2.8% from 2008 to 2009; through the first nine months of 2010, hospital drug expenditures increased by only 0.8% compared with the same period in 2009. CONCLUSION. For 2011, we project a 3-5% increase in drug expenditures in outpatient settings, a 4-6% increase in expenditures for clinic-administered drugs, and a 1-3% increase in hospital drug expenditures.

We report Nernst effect data for crystalline films of Y0.95Ca0.05Ba2(Cu1-xZnx)3Oy (with x=0, 0.02, and 0.04) and Y0.9Ca0.1Ba2Cu3Oy grown by pulsed laser deposition. We show that our own results and published data for LSCO are consistent with the theory of Gaussian superconducting fluctuations. We also show that Zn doping increases the Nernst coefficient simply because it reduces the in-plane conductivity.

This pilot study determines whether NASCAR racing teams demonstrate exposure to lead from exhaust by evaluation of blood lead levels (BLL). Participants were stratified by proximity to fuel exhaust or whether they worked on an engine. Each participant completed a self-reported survey recording demographics, lead exposure (occupational or in-home environment), and any physical symptoms of lead toxicity. Blood lead levels were then measured. BLL of 47 individuals ranged from 1-22 microg/dL with a median of 9.4 microg/dL. Nineteen of 47 (40.4%) had BLLor = 10 microg/dL. Participants exposed to exhaust gas had the highest relative risks (RR) for elevated lead, followed by working on brakes and radiator repair. The RR of having an elevated BLL and self-reported adverse health outcomes or symptoms was increased. This study of NASCAR racing teams demonstrates lead exposure.

Publisher Summary Fabric hand is a property assessed very often in daily life, providing information mostly for the finishing and clothing industry. This chapter shows that objective hand tests made on a very complicated and expensive system can be replaced by less complicated tests done on the Instron tensile tester; and it presents the derivation of General Hand Factor [“GHF”] for such measurements. In order to elaborate the GHF and to assess the influence of fabric structure factors on the GHF value, raw fabrics characterized by different weaves and different cover factor values resulting from the different weft density values were produced; next, they were finished using two types of finishing. The chapter outlines the problem concerning the main factors that influence fabric hand. It also presents the results of tests on mechanical properties under small stresses for cotton and CO/PES fabrics.

The ferromagnetic heavy fermion compound Ce3RhSi3 was studied by means of electrical resistivity, Hall effect, thermoelectric power and Nernst coefficient measurements. Below T ≈ 30 K, all the transport characteristics were found to behave anomalously as functions of temperature and magnetic field. In particular, the Hall and Nernst coefficients at low temperatures exhibit pronounced and strongly field-dependent maxima, likely possessing the same microscopic origin, which however cannot be captured by available theoretical models.

In a group of 20 males aged 19-20 years ultraviolet radiation reflectance of different wavelength (250-400 nm) from skin surface was measured. It was found that the reflectance increased monotonically with the decrease of wavelength. The reflectance values were compared with the coefficient of relative spectral biological effectiveness and significance of both values for evaluation of human exposure to ultraviolet radiation was discussed.

Bearing in mind that computer monitors have become quite popular nowadays among both professionals and hobbyists, the authors analysed the UV radiation emitted by them. Chromatic and monochromatic monitors were used in the study. The ultraviolet radiation of monitors was compared with the UV emission of sterilamps and fluorescent lamps. The same order of radiation intensity was found in all sources under study. In addition, the effectiveness of two popular screen filters in suppressing the UV emission of computer monitors was studied. The suppression of radiation was observed together with a parallel absorption of the visible part of radiation.

The temperature of the superconducting transition of Ru1−xSr2RECu2+xO8−d (RE=Gd, Eu) compounds was raised up to 72 K (for x=0.4; compare to TC=45 K observed for RuSr2GdCu2O8) by changing the ratio between Ru and Cu. Magnetization experiments performed under external pressure for RE=Gd: x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4, and RE=Eu: x=0.4 samples reveal that TC increases at a rate of 5–6 K/GPa. The hole doping achieved along the series has been probed in Hall effect, thermopower, and XANES experiments and is found to increase with x. Muon spin rotation spectroscopy experiments reveal the presence of a low temperature magnetic transition for Ru0.6Sr2EuCu2.4O8−d (Tm≈5 K), similar to that recently observed in the Ru1−xSr2GdCu2+xO8−d system [P. W. Klamut, et al., Physica C 364, 313 (2001)]. Low temperature magnetization data suggest the constrained dimensionality of the superconducting phase in both RE=Gd and Eu based compounds.

During the past decade an evident increase in the curability of children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) has been achieved. Intensive multidrug therapy regimens involving local radiotherapy and prophylaxis of the central nervous system have been used with notable success [1–3]. The increasing efficiency of modern therapy of childhood NHL has stimulated further studies. It has been demonstrated that the remarkable heterogeneity of NHL in the relapse risk is related to the primary location of the tumor and its dissemination, histology, and immunology (4–9). During its 6-year observation of children with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated according to the modified LSA2L2 protocol, the Polish Children’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Study Group has accumulated experience which, together with other studies, could be the background for further refinment of the treatment. This paper summarizes the long-term results in the treatment of NHL with the modified LSA2L2 protocol. The evaluation of the early effects of therapy of disseminated NHL with two other regimens, COAMP [5] and Murphy-Bowmann [4], also is reported.

When aerobically grown on complex media, Haemophilus influenzae b and unencapsulated variants, Rb strains, produced a bactericidal factor that was active against other Haemophilus species and certain genera of the Enterobacteriaceae . A total of 341 clinical isolates of Haemophilus were tested for susceptibility to the factor. Ninety-three percent of H. influenzae (nontypable), 75% of H. haemolyticus , 71% of H. parainfluenzae , and 22% of H. parahaemolyticus were susceptible. H. influenaze b strains were resistant producers of the bactericidal factor and H. influenzae f strains were susceptible nonproducers. Only one strain each of H. aegyptius and H. aphrophilus was isolated and each was susceptible and resistant, respectively. 143 clinical isolates of the Enterobacteriaceae were tested and of those 82% of Escherichia coli , 85% of Salmonella sp., and all Citrobacter sp., Shigella sp., and Yersinia sp. were sensitive to the bactericidal factor produced by H. influenzae b. Attempts to isolate the bactericidal activity from mechanically disrupted, solubilized, or osmotically shocked cells failed to release active bactericidal factor. However, we partially purified the bactericidal factor from the spent culture medium of aerobically grown H. influenzae b by a series of extractions. The ability to produce the bactericidal factor was transferable to nonproducer strains without also genetically transforming for type b encapsulation. The converse was also true in that type b capsules were produced by transformed H. influenzae Rd strains but no bactericidal factor was detected from these strains. Additionally, nitrosoguanidine-induced mutants of H. influenzae b lost the ability to produce bactericidal factor without loss of their type-specific capsule, demonstrating that production of the bactericidal factor was genetically separable from production of the type capsule of H. influenzae b.