Aims of study The overall aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting service delivery within a national pharmacy chain, from the perspective of pharmacists and consumers, using asthma services as an example. Data were collected to explore the current environment and opportunities available to pharmacy, the factors affecting service delivery, and to identify recommendations for future service models. The impact of the design and route of service implementation were studied through two different types of asthma services. Methods The brief intervention in asthma was designed centrally and implemented nationally, whilst the asthma service was designed and implemented locally by a group of pharmacists. A triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods were used throughout this study, including an omnibus survey, audits, mystery customer research, customer and pharmacist interviews, and a review of the dispensing data. Results A total of 81 facilitators, 45 barriers and 23 motivators were identified. In addition to extending those factors that had been previously recognised within the literature, new factors were also identified. Firstly, the route and design of service implementation to promote local ownership and responsibility for delivery of services was found to be a key factor, as was having flexibility in the length and content of service delivery. Clear and visible benefits to the pharmacists delivering the service, the customers accessing the service, and the pharmacy organisation were also found to play an important role in the delivery of services. Conclusions This is the first large scale study of its kind to look at all the factors involved from the perspective of both customers and pharmacists, and many of the facilitators and barriers identified extend beyond those provided within the current literature. The motivators identified within the previous studies have been from the perspective of pharmacists only. This study has looked at the perspective of not only pharmacists, but also the motivators to customers and the service provider. Based on all the factors identified throughout this study, a number of recommendations have been made for future service delivery.

Pullulan has been chemically modified by the incorporation of various hydrophobic molecules, to produce two types of derivatives (hydrophobically modified carboxymethyl pullulans (HMCMPs), and crosslinked carboxymethyl pullulan). The foregoing modifications were performed in two steps from the parent pullulan. The first step involved carboxylation of pullulan with sodium chloroacetate yielding carboxymethyl pullulan (CMP). The second step involved the medication of CMP by coupling different amine functionalized molecules onto the carboxylic groups of CMP, using the coupling agent dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. The amines used in this modification step were: hexadecylamine, decylamine, cadaverine (1-5 diaminopentane), and three jeffamine® (polyoxypropylenediamine) compounds of differing molecular weights (230, 400 and 2000). Results concluded that all six pullulan derivatives show an increase in reduced viscosity to varying degrees, compared to the parent pullulan. Characterization of pullulan and the derivatives concluded that the correct structures have been synthesised. Gel permeation chromatography confirmed that four pullulan derivatives had been crosslinked (due to doubled molecular weight terms), and a further two have increased in molecular weights, with no increase in polydispersity indices. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments were initially performed on model systems (two different ß-cyclodextrins, and benzoic acid and eletriptan hydrobromide), and then on pullulan and the derivatives with eletriptan hydrobromide. These experiments probed the nature and extent of drug binding interactions. Results concluded that pullulan derivatives showed exothermic drug binding interactions with the named drug, with the exception of jeffamine 2000 crosslinked CMP, which exhibited endothermic interactions with the titrated drug. Pullulans excellent film forming capabilities may lead these polymers to a novel oral dosage form containing active (dissolving films).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1941. / Typescript. Includes abstract and vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Proefschrift--Rijksuniversiteit te Utrecht, 1932. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 74-77).

Thesis (M. CM)--Hong Kong Baptist University, 2006. / Dissertation submitted to the School of Chinese Medicine. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 30-32).

Thesis (Ph.D.)(Botany)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

The present thesis is focused on the study of innovative Si-based materials for third generation photovoltaics. In particular, silicon oxi-nitride (SiOxNy) thin films and multilayer of Silicon Rich Carbide (SRC)/Si have been characterized in view of their application in photovoltaics. SiOxNy is a promising material for applications in thin-film solar cells as well as for wafer based silicon solar cells, like silicon heterojunction solar cells. However, many issues relevant to the material properties have not been studied yet, such as the role of the deposition condition and precursor gas concentrations on the optical and electronic properties of the films, the composition and structure of the nanocrystals. The results presented in the thesis aim to clarify the effects of annealing and oxygen incorporation within nc-SiOxNy films on its properties in view of the photovoltaic applications. Silicon nano-crystals (Si NCs) embedded in a dielectric matrix were proposed as absorbers in all-Si multi-junction solar cells due to the quantum confinement capability of Si NCs, that allows a better match to the solar spectrum thanks to the size induced tunability of the band gap. Despite the efficient solar radiation absorption capability of this structure, its charge collection and transport properties has still to be fully demonstrated. The results presented in the thesis aim to the understanding of the transport mechanisms at macroscopic and microscopic scale. Experimental results on SiOxNy thin films and SRC/Si multilayers have been obtained at macroscopical and microscopical level using different characterizations techniques, such as Atomic Force Microscopy, Reflection and Transmission measurements, High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The deep knowledge and improved understanding of the basic physical properties of these quite complex, multi-phase and multi-component systems, made by nanocrystals and amorphous phases, will contribute to improve the efficiency of Si based solar cells.

Orientador: Alexandre Reily Rocha / Banca: Marcelo Takeshi Yamashita / Banca: Cedric Rocha Leão / Resumo: A realização experimental do grafeno em 2004 abriu as portas para os estudos de uma nova geração de materiais, estes chamados materiais bidimensionais são a expressão final do que poderíamos pensar em material plano (monocamada) que, eventualmente, podem ser empilhados para formar o bulk. O grafeno oferece uma grande variedade de propriedades físicas, em grande parte, como o resultado da dimensionalidade de sua estrutura, e pelas mesmas razões, materiais como Fosforeno (P), Siliceno (S), Nitreto de Boro hexagonal (hBN), dicalcogenos de metais de transição (TMDC), etc. São muito interessantes para fins teóricos, como para futuras aplicações tecnológicas que podem-se desenvolver a partir deles, como dispositivos de spintrônica e armazenamento. Neste trabalho o estudo desenvolvido são as propriedades eletrônicas dos materiais apresentados acima (grafeno, fosforeno e MoTe 2 ), e além disso, ja que o acoplamento spin-órbita aumenta à medida que o número atômico tambem aumenta, espera-se que este parâmetro desempenhe um papel na estrutura eletrônica, particularmente para os TMDC's. Começamos descrevendo genéricamente esses três sistemas, isto é, para o grafeno, podemos usar uma abordagem tipo tight binding, a fim de encontrar a dispersão de energia para as quase-particulas perto do nível de Fermi (Equação de Dirac). Usando cálculos DFT estudou-se de forma geral as propriedades desses sistemas com a inclusão do espin órbita. Abordou-se cálculos para descrever os efeitos do acoplo s... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The experimental realization of graphene in 2004 opened the gates to the studies of a new generation of materials, these so-called 2 dimensional materials are the nal expression of what we could think of a plane material (monolayer) that eventually can be stacked to form a bulk. Graphene, the wonder material, o ers a large variety of physical properties, in great part, as the result of the dimensionality of its structure, and for the same reasons, materials like phosphorene(P), silicene(S), hexagonal Boron Nitride (hBN), transition metal dichalcogenides(TMDC), etc. are very interesting for theoretical purposes, as for the future technological applications that we can develope from them, such as Spintronics and Storage devices. In this dissertation we theoretically study the electronic properties of the materials presented above (graphene, Phosphorene and MoTe2), and besides that, since the spin-orbit coupling strength increases as the atomic number does, we expect that this paremeter plays a role in the electronic structure, particularly for the TMDC. We start describing generically those three systems using density functional theory including the e ect of spin orbit. We address calculations to describe the e ects of spin orbit on the isolated materials as well as the heterostructures. Finally we also include the possibility of defects in graphene and their possible in uence on the electronic structure of heterostructures / Mestre

Latrophilin1 (LPHN1) is a presynaptic adhesion G protein-coupled receptor involved in the control of spontaneous exocytosis of neurotransmitters. The effects of LPHN1 activation on exocytosis have been described on several model systems, such as cultured hippocampal neurons and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) using its well known agonist LTXN4C, and include a massive increase in exocytosis characterised by periods of intense release (bursts) interspersed with periods of moderate activity (interburst intervals). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects were yet to be determined. Based on previous observations that LPHN1 is associated to G proteins, and that its activation leads to activation of PLC and increased IP3, we hypothesize that LPHN1 controls exocytosis via the Gαq protein pathway, whose activation ultimately results in the release of Ca2+ from IP3-sensitive Ca2+ stores. Using a pharmacological approach and the current clamp method at the mouse NMJ, we first used LPHN1 KO preparations to study the role of LPHN1 on spontaneous exocytosis in resting conditions, and to show that LPHN1 is the only receptor mediating the effects observed upon stimulation by LTXN4C. Then, we interfered with several molecules involved in the Gαq pathway to test their involvement in LPHN1 activation, and we investigated the role of store-operated (SOCCs) and voltage-gated (VGCCs) Ca2+ channels in mediating the Ca2+ influx that is necessary for the development of LPHN1 effects. Our results support the hypothesis LPHN1 is involved in the regulation of spontaneous exocytosis at rest and that it is the receptor mediating the increased exocytosis following stimulation by LTXN4C; the suggestions that Gαq and its intracellular pathway mediate the effects of LPHN1 activation on spontaneous exocytosis, and that SOCCs and VGCCs (particularly Cav2.1) mediate the Ca2+ influx necessary for the development of LPHN1 effects are also supported by our findings. Altogether, this work uncovered the mechanisms by which G protein-coupled receptors, in this case LPHN1, can regulate the rate of spontaneous neurotransmitter release at the mouse NMJ.

An estimated 2% of the human genome encodes for proteolytic enzymes. It is becoming increasingly apparent that serine proteases have diverse and critical roles in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. Studies investigating the role of serine proteases in the kidney have focussed primarily on their pro-inflammatory effects and their ability to cleave and activate the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). P2X receptors, which are structurally very similar to ENaC and have been identified throughout the nephron and in the renal vasculature, are thought to contribute to the regulation of tubular transport mechanism and renal haemodynamics, as well as be involved in several renal pathologies. It is shown here that the serine protease, trypsin, has a significant inhibitory effect on recombinant human P2X3 and P2X7 receptor activity. Moreover, it is shown that trypsin may also have an inhibitory effect on purinergic signalling in the mouse cortical collecting duct. In addition, the single channel activity of P2X receptors expressed on the apical membrane of renal collecting duct epithelial cells is described for the first time. Finally, a novel use of the live-tissue slice method is described and the first direct evidence showing trypsin causes significant morphological changes in renal tubules and medullary microvessels in situ is provided. Collectively, data presented here provides evidence to suggest that serine proteases may contribute to several aspects of renal function that have not previously been explored.