Electronic structure and properties of AlN

The electronic structure of the wurtzite-type phase of aluminum nitride has been investigated by means of periodic ab initio Hartree-Fock calculations. The binding energy, lattice parameters (a,c), and the internal coordinate (u) have been calculated. All structural parameters are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. The electronic structure and bonding in AlN are analyzed by means of density-of-states projections and electron-density maps. The calculated values of the bulk modulus, its pressure derivative, the optical-phonon frequencies at the center of the Brillouin zone, and the full set of elastic constants are in good agreement with the experimental data.

Secure and Prepared Newsletter, February 2013, Vol. 9, no. 2

A bi-weekly newsletter for those involved in the fields of homeland security and/or emergency management

Secure and Prepared Newsletter, April 2013, Vol. 9, no. 4

A bi-weekly newsletter for those involved in the fields of homeland security and/or emergency management

Secure and Prepared Newsletter, May 2013, Vol. 9, no. 5

A bi-weekly newsletter for those involved in the fields of homeland security and/or emergency management

Secure and Prepared Newsletter, March 2013, Vol. 9, no. 3

A bi-weekly newsletter for those involved in the fields of homeland security and/or emergency management

Secure and Prepared Newsletter, June 2013, Vol. 9, no. 6

A bi-weekly newsletter for those involved in the fields of homeland security and/or emergency management

Secure and Prepared Newsletter, July 2013, Vol. 9, no. 7

A bi-weekly newsletter for those involved in the fields of homeland security and/or emergency management

Secure and Prepared Newsletter, August 2013, Vol. 9, no. 8

A bi-weekly newsletter for those involved in the fields of homeland security and/or emergency management

Impact of electronic monitoring of drug adherence on blood pressure control in primary care: a cluster 12-month randomised controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Poor long-term adherence is an important cause of uncontrolled hypertension. We examined whether monitoring drug adherence with an electronic system improves long-term blood pressure (BP) control in hypertensive patients followed by general practitioners (GPs). METHODS: A pragmatic cluster randomised controlled study was conducted over one year in community pharmacists/GPs' networks randomly assigned either to usual care (UC) where drugs were dispensed as usual, or to intervention (INT) group where drug adherence could be monitored with an electronic system (Medication Event Monitoring System). No therapy change was allowed during the first 2 months in both groups. Thereafter, GPs could modify therapy and use electronic monitors freely in the INT group. The primary outcome was a target office BP<140/90 mmHg. RESULTS: Sixty-eight treated uncontrolled hypertensive patients (UC: 34; INT: 34) were enrolled. Over the 12-month period, the likelihood of reaching the target BP was higher in the INT group compared to the UC group (p<0.05). At 4 months, 38% in the INT group reached the target BP vs. 12% in the UC group (p<0.05), and 21% vs. 9% at 12 months (p: ns). Multivariate analyses, taking account of baseline characteristics, therapy modification during follow-up, and clustering effects by network, indicate that being allocated to the INT group was associated with a greater odds of reaching the target BP at 4 months (p<0.01) and at 12 months (p=0.051). CONCLUSION: GPs monitoring drug adherence in collaboration with pharmacists achieved a better BP control in hypertensive patients, although the impact of monitoring decreased with time.

Report on the six divisions of the Iowa Department of Commerce for the year ended June 30, 2012

Report on the six divisions of the Iowa Department of Commerce for the year ended June 30, 2012