Exercise produces a decrease in pain sensitivity via an effect called exercise-induced hypoalgesia(EIH).Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS),acting on similar analgesic mechanisms as EIH,represents a potentia...Exercise produces a decrease in pain sensitivity via an effect called exercise-induced hypoalgesia(EIH).Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS),acting on similar analgesic mechanisms as EIH,represents a potential complementary intervention that may amplify the effects of exercise on pain.This study aimed to explore if anodal tDCS could enhance the effect of exercise on pain compared to exercise alone.A total of 35 healthy participants aged 19–37 years completed a familiarisation session followed by two separate sessions where active and sham tDCS was applied in a randomised cross-over design.The familiarisation session involved familiarisation to the pain assessment and exercise tasks,while the subsequent tDCS sessions involved pain sensitivity assessment,exercise and either anodal tDCS or sham tDCS.tDCS doses were applied at 2 mA over the primary motor cortex for 10 min,with the reference electrode placed over the contralateral supraorbital area.The exercise task involved a sustained isometric grip strength contraction at 35%of maximal voluntary contraction(MVC)until volitional exhaustion.Pain sensitivity was evaluated as pressure pain threshold before tDCS,after tDCS,and after exercise.Across both tDCS conditions,pain threshold was higher after exercise when compared to pre-and post-tDCS measurement.This increase in pain threshold did not differ between active and sham tDCS conditions.Our findings suggest that the hypoalgesic effects of active anodal tDCS over the motor cortex prior to exercise are no greater than the effects of sham tDCS prior to exercise.展开更多
Herein,the effect of direct current(DC)attached the mold on refining the microstructure and alleviating the central segregation of a tin–bismuth(Sn–10 wt.%Bi)alloy ingot during the solidification process has been in...Herein,the effect of direct current(DC)attached the mold on refining the microstructure and alleviating the central segregation of a tin–bismuth(Sn–10 wt.%Bi)alloy ingot during the solidification process has been investigated.The experiment used a self-made device,which can achieve the effect of refining the solidified structure and alleviate the segregation of the metal casting.Numerical simulations were performed to calculate the Lorentz force,Joule heating and induced melt vortex flow for the magneto-hydrodynamic case.Our results show that the maximum velocity of the global electro-vortex reached 0.017 m s^(–1).The DC-induced electro-vortex was found to be the primary reason of refining the equiaxed grain and alleviating the segregation of theβ-Sn crystal boundary.The grain refining effect observed in these experiments can be solely attributed to the forced melt flow driven by the Lorentz force.DC field attached the mold can lead to grain refinement and alleviate the segregation of the ingot via a global vortex.The technology can be applied not only to opened molds,but also toward improving the quality in closed molds.展开更多
The integration of large-scale new energy and high-capacity DC transmission leads to a reduction in system inertia.Grid-forming renewable energy sources(GF-RES)has a significant improvement effect on system inertia.Co...The integration of large-scale new energy and high-capacity DC transmission leads to a reduction in system inertia.Grid-forming renewable energy sources(GF-RES)has a significant improvement effect on system inertia.Commutation failure faults may cause a short-term reactive power surplus at the sending end and trigger transient overvoltage,threatening the safe and stable operation of the power grid.However,there is a lack of research on the calculation method of transient overvoltage caused by commutation failure in high-voltage DC transmission systems with grid-forming renewable energy sources integration.Based on the existing equivalent model of highvoltage DC transmission systems at the sending end,this paper proposes to construct a model of the high-voltage DC transmission system at the sending end with grid-forming renewable energy sources.The paper first clarifies the mechanism of overvoltage generation,then considers the reactive power droop control characteristics of GF-RES,and derives the transient voltage calculation model of theDC transmission system with GF-RES integration.It also proposes a calculation method for transient overvoltage at the sending-end converter bus with GF-RES integration.Based on the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation platform,this paper builds an experimental simulation model.By constructing three different experimental scenarios,the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed transient overvoltage calculation method are verified,with a calculation error within 5%.At the same time,this paper quantitatively analyzes the impact of grid strength,new energy proportion,and rated transmission power on transient overvoltage from three different perspectives.展开更多
Background Pain sensitivity is critical for preventing non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)behaviours;however,individuals engaging in such behaviours often exhibit decreased pain sensitivity,which may undermine this natural...Background Pain sensitivity is critical for preventing non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)behaviours;however,individuals engaging in such behaviours often exhibit decreased pain sensitivity,which may undermine this natural safeguard.The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC)is a key region involved in pain regulation,and recent approaches using transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)to target the DLPFC have shown potential for modulating pain processing and restoring normal pain perception for individuals engaging in NSSI behaviours.Aims This study aimed to explore the immediate and short-term effects of a single session of tDCS on pain sensitivity in individuals with NSSI,as well as its secondary effects on mood and NSSI-related factors.Methods In this randomised,double-blind,parallel,sham-controlled clinical trial,participants with a history of NSSI were randomly assigned to receive either active or sham tDCS.The intervention consisted of a single 20 min tDCS session targeting the left DLPFC.The primary outcome was pain sensitivity,measured by the pressure pain threshold(PPT)and heat pain score(HPS).Secondary and additional outcomes included NSSI urges,NSSI resistance,self-efficacy in resisting NSSI,mood-related variables and exploratory cognitive-affective processes such as rumination,self-criticism and self-perceived pain sensitivity,assessed at baseline,immediately post-intervention,and at 24 hours,1 week and 2 weeks follow-ups.Results For the primary outcomes,no significant differences between groups were observed for pain sensitivity(PPT,padj=0.812;HPS,padj=0.608).However,an exploratory sensitivity analysis treating each trial as an individual observation revealed a significant effect on HPS(padj=0.036).For the secondary and additional outcomes,although there were initial improvements in joyful feelings and reductions in negative affect at 2 weeks post-intervention,these effects did not remain significant after multiple comparison corrections.Notably,reductions in rumination were statistically significant at both 1-week and 2-week follow-ups(1 week,p_(adj)=0.040;2 weeks,p_(adj)=0.042).There were no significant effects on NSSI urges,NSSI resistance,self-efficacy in resisting NSSI or self-criticism.Conclusions A single session of tDCS over the left DLPFC did not produce significant changes in pain sensitivity in individuals with NSSI.A sensitivity analysis indicated an effect on heat pain sensitivity,possibly reflecting changes in brain activity,warranting confirmation through neuroimaging.These findings suggest that tDCS warrants further investigation for its potential to influence pain-related cognitive-affective processes in individuals with NSSI.展开更多
BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric condition with complex symptomatology,including debilitating auditory hallucinations.Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)has been explored as an adjunctive tr...BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric condition with complex symptomatology,including debilitating auditory hallucinations.Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)has been explored as an adjunctive treatment to alleviate such symptoms.AIM To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of tDCS in schizophrenia.METHODS Adhering to PRISMA guidelines,we systematically searched PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and the Cochrane Library on September 19,2023,for randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of tDCS in schizophrenia,with no language or time restrictions.We included studies that compared tDCS with a control condition and reported clinically relevant outcomes.Data extraction and quality assessments were performed by independent evaluators using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool.Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated,and a random-effects model was applied due to moderate heterogeneity(I2=41.3%).RESULTS Nine studies comprising 425 participants(tDCS group:219,control group:206)were included.The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in auditory hallucination scores following tDCS treatment(weighted mean difference:-2.18,95%confidence interval:-4.0 to-0.29,P<0.01).Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results,with no significant influence from individual studies.Additionally,publication bias was not detected,supporting the reliability and generalizability of the findings.These results underscore the efficacy of tDCS as a therapeutic intervention for auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.CONCLUSION tDCS significantly reduces auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia,suggesting its potential as an effective adjunctive treatment for managing this disabling symptom.The findings highlight the practical significance of tDCS in clinical settings,particularly for patients with treatment-resistant auditory hallucinations.展开更多
In order to gain a deeper understanding of the effect of pulsed current on the mechanical properties and size effect of nanocrystalline Ni foils,nanocrystalline Ni foils with different grain thickness-to-grain size ra...In order to gain a deeper understanding of the effect of pulsed current on the mechanical properties and size effect of nanocrystalline Ni foils,nanocrystalline Ni foils with different grain thickness-to-grain size ratios(λ)were prepared using pulsed electrodeposition in this paper and unidirectional tensile experiments were carried out at room temperature with different currents and their applied directions.The experimental results show that the nanocrystalline Ni foil produces an obvious electroplasticity effect after applying the current field,and when 300<λ<1100,the current weakens the size effect of nanocrystalline Ni foils to a certain extent,and the angle between the current direction and the deformation direction also affects the mechanical response of nanocrystalline Ni foils,and when the angle between the current direction and the deformation direction is 0°,electroplasticity effect is the best,and the current has the most significant effect of abating the size effect of the material.The mechanism of unidirectional tensile deformation of nanocrystalline Ni foils under the effect of pulsed current was analyzed using TEM and TKD.It was found that the applied pulse current increased the activity of the nanocrystalline boundaries,promoted the movement of dislocations,and reduced the tendency of dislocation entanglement.The higher the peak current density and the smaller the angle between the direction of the current and the direction of deformation,the smaller the grain boundary orientation difference,the more dispersed the grain orientation,and the lower the density of geometrically necessary dislocations(GND)in the deformed nanocrystalline foil,the more significant the effect on material plasticity improvement.展开更多
BACKGROUND Postoperative delirium(POD),an acute neuropsychiatric complication in elderly surgical patients,manifests as attention and cognitive disturbances that may last 24-72 hours after surgery,potentially progress...BACKGROUND Postoperative delirium(POD),an acute neuropsychiatric complication in elderly surgical patients,manifests as attention and cognitive disturbances that may last 24-72 hours after surgery,potentially progressing to dementia.Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS),a non-invasive neuromodulation technique,enhances cortical excitability and cognitive function by modulating brain networks and synaptic plasticity.Elderly patients undergoing major laparoscopic surgery face elevated POD risks due to prolonged anesthesia and pneumoperitoneum-induced cerebral hypoperfusion.This study investigates whether pre-anesthesia tDCS can reduce POD incidence in this population.AIM To investigate the effect of preoperative tDCS on reducing the incidence of POD in elderly patients undergoing major laparoscopic surgery.METHODS In this study,we enrolled 220 elderly patients who underwent major laparoscopic surgery between April 2024 and December 2024.Patients were randomly assigned to the active-tDCS(group A)and sham-tDCS(group S)groups.A single session of tDCS or sham stimulation was administered 30 minutes before anesthesia induction.The primary outcome was the incidence of POD during within 3 days postoperatively.RESULTS A total of 201 patients were included in the final analysis,with 100 patients in group A and 101 in group S.The incidence of POD within 3 days postoperatively was 7.0%in group A,which was significantly lower than 22.8%in group S.On postoperative day 1,the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores significantly differed between the two groups,but the pain scores showed no significant difference.CONCLUSION A single session of preoperative tDCS can reduce the incidence of POD in elderly patients undergoing major laparoscopic surgery and can also reduce postoperative anxiety and depression in these patients.展开更多
An unauthorised version of the Chinese MMSE was used in this article by the authors without permission from the copyright owner,PAR.Necessary permission has now been retrospectively obtained from PAR.The MMSE is a cop...An unauthorised version of the Chinese MMSE was used in this article by the authors without permission from the copyright owner,PAR.Necessary permission has now been retrospectively obtained from PAR.The MMSE is a copyrighted instrument and may not be used or reproduced in whole or in part,in any form or language,or by any means without the written permission of PAR(www.parinc.com).展开更多
The sub-forum on standardization of new energy and direct-current diversified applications was held on July 9,which gathered leaders and experts to discuss how to thoroughly implement the national green power direct c...The sub-forum on standardization of new energy and direct-current diversified applications was held on July 9,which gathered leaders and experts to discuss how to thoroughly implement the national green power direct connection policy proposed in the transformation of the energy landscape,pool wisdom to tackle bottlenecks in the industrialization of DC technology,and leverage the role of standardization in coordinating and regulating the diversified applications of DC technology.It was designed to promote the establishment of a collaborative,open,and advanced global standards system for DC technology.展开更多
Low dark current photocathode guns are highly desired for high-brightness continuous-wave operations.Direct-current superconducting radio-frequency(DC-SRF)gun,a hybrid photocathode gun combining a DC gap and an SRF ca...Low dark current photocathode guns are highly desired for high-brightness continuous-wave operations.Direct-current superconducting radio-frequency(DC-SRF)gun,a hybrid photocathode gun combining a DC gap and an SRF cavity,effectively isolates the photocathode from the SRF cavity and offers significant advantages in terms of minimizing dark current levels.This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the dark current of a newly developed high-brightness DC-SRF photocathode gun(DC-SRF-Ⅱ gun).Particularly,a systematic experimental investigation of the dark current was conducted,and a comprehensive understanding of its formation was achieved through compliant simulations and measurements.Additionally,measures for attaining sub-nanoampere dark currents in the DC-SRF-Ⅱ gun are presented,including design considerations,cavity processing,assembly,and conditioning.The findings of this study establish a strong foundation for achieving high-performance operation of the DC-SRF-Ⅱ gun and provide a valuable reference for other photocathode guns.展开更多
Low-density short-duration pulsed current-assisted aging treatment was applied to the Ti-6Al-4V-0.5Mo-0.5Zr alloy subjected to different solution treatments.The results show that numerous α_(p) phases redissolve into...Low-density short-duration pulsed current-assisted aging treatment was applied to the Ti-6Al-4V-0.5Mo-0.5Zr alloy subjected to different solution treatments.The results show that numerous α_(p) phases redissolve into the new β phase during the pulsed current-assisted aging process,and then the newly formed β phase is mainly transformed into the β_(t) phase,with occasional transition to new α_(p) phase,leading to a remarkable grain refinement,especially for the lamellarαs phases.In comparison to conventional aging treatment,the pulsed current-assisted aging approach achieves a significant enhancement in strength without degrading ductility,yielding an excellent mechanical property combination:a yield strength of 932 MPa,a tensile strength of 1042 MPa,and an elongation of 12.2%.It is primarily ascribed to the increased fraction of β_(t) phases,the obvious grain refinement effect,and the slip block effect induced by the multiple-variantαs colonies distributed within β_(t) phases.展开更多
This article investigates the robust current tracking control problem of three-phase grid-connected inverters with LCL filter under external disturbance by a dynamic state feedback control method.First,this paper cons...This article investigates the robust current tracking control problem of three-phase grid-connected inverters with LCL filter under external disturbance by a dynamic state feedback control method.First,this paper constructs an internal model to learn the information of the states and input of the grid-connected inverter under steady state.Second,by utilizing the internal model principle,the paper turns the tracking control problem into the robust stabilization control problem based on some appropriate coordinate transformations.Then,The paper designs a dynamics state feedback control law to deal with this robust stabilization problem,and thus the solution of the robust current tracking control problem of three-phase grid-connected inverters can be obtained.This control method can ensure the asymptotic stability of the closedloop system.Finally,the paper illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed control approach through several groups of simulations,and compares it with the feedforward control method to verify the robustness of the proposed control method to uncertain parameters.展开更多
The efficiency and stability of catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution(PHE)are largely governed by the charge transfer behaviors across the heterojunction interfaces.In this study,CuO,a typical semiconductor ...The efficiency and stability of catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution(PHE)are largely governed by the charge transfer behaviors across the heterojunction interfaces.In this study,CuO,a typical semiconductor featuring a broad spectral absorption range,is successfully employed as the electron acceptor to combine with CdS for constructing a S-scheme heterojunction.The optimized photocatalyst(CdSCuO2∶1)delivers an exceptional hydrogen evolution rate of 18.89 mmol/(g·h),4.15-fold higher compared with bare CdS.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection absorption spectroscopy(UV-vis DRS)confirmed the S-scheme band structure of the composites.Moreover,the surface photovoltage(SPV)and electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)indicated that the photogenerated electrons and photogenerated holes of CdS-CuO2∶1 were respectively transferred to the conduction band(CB)of CdS with a higher reduction potential and the valence band(VB)of CuO with a higher oxidation potential under illumination,as expected for the S-scheme mechanism.Density-functional-theory calculations of the electron density difference(EDD)disclose an interfacial electric field oriented from CdS to CuO.This built-in field suppresses charge recombination and accelerates carrier migration,rationalizing the markedly enhanced PHE activity.This study offers a novel strategy for designing S-scheme heterojunctions with high light harvesting and charge utilization toward sustainable solar-tohydrogen conversion.展开更多
The fatigue crack growth rate of a novel Ti-6Al-4V-1Mo titanium alloy,which is developed for laser directed energy deposition technique,was investigated before and after cyclic heat treatment(CHT).Changes in microstru...The fatigue crack growth rate of a novel Ti-6Al-4V-1Mo titanium alloy,which is developed for laser directed energy deposition technique,was investigated before and after cyclic heat treatment(CHT).Changes in microstructure,fracture surfaces,and crack growth paths were analyzed before and after CHT.Results indicate that in the stable crack growth region,the growth rates for the as-deposited and cyclic heat-treated specimens follow the relationships da/dN=1.8651×10^(−8)(ΔK)^(3.2271)and da/dN=1.4112×10^(−8)(ΔK)^(3.1125),respectively.Compared with that at the as-deposited state,the microstructure after CHT is transformed from a uniform basket-weave microstructure to a dual-phase microstructure consisting of near-sphericalαandβ-transformed matrix phases.The cyclic process also disrupts the continuity of the grain boundaryα(αGB)at the primaryβ-phase grain boundary.The coarsening of primaryαand the disruption ofαGB continuity are the primary factors to release stress concentration and promote crack deflection,thereby decreasing the fatigue crack growth rate.Additionally,the increased occurrence of crack branching,secondary cracking,and crack bridging in cyclic heat-treated specimens further reduces the crack driving force and slows the fatigue crack growth rate.展开更多
Directional three-dimensional carbon-based foams are emerging as highly attractive candidates for promising electromagnetic wave absorbing materials(EWAMs)thanks to their unique architecture,but their construction usu...Directional three-dimensional carbon-based foams are emerging as highly attractive candidates for promising electromagnetic wave absorbing materials(EWAMs)thanks to their unique architecture,but their construction usually involves complex procedures and extremely depends on unidirectional freezing technique.Herein,we propose a groundbreaking approach that leverages the assemblies of salting-out protein induced by ammonium metatungstate(AM)as the precursor,and then acquire directional three-dimensional carbon-based foams through simple pyrolysis.The electrostatic interaction between AM and protein ensures well dispersion of WC_(1−x)nanoparticles on carbon frameworks.The content of WC_(1−x)nanoparticles can be rationally regulated by AM dosage,and it also affects the electromagnetic(EM)properties of final carbon-based foams.The optimized foam exhibits exceptional EM absorption performance,achieving a remarkable minimum reflection loss of−72.0 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.3 GHz when EM wave propagates parallel to the directional pores.Such performance benefits from the synergistic effects of macroporous architecture and compositional design.Although there is a directional dependence of EM absorption,radar stealth simulation demonstrates that these foams can still promise considerable reduction in radar cross section with the change of incident angle.Moreover,COMSOL simulation further identifies their good performance in preventing EM interference among different electronic components.展开更多
The Cooling-Storage-Ring External-target Experiment(CEE)at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou(HIRFL)is designed to study the properties of nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions at beam energies from a...The Cooling-Storage-Ring External-target Experiment(CEE)at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou(HIRFL)is designed to study the properties of nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions at beam energies from a few hundred MeV/u up to 1 GeV/u.It aims to facilitate research on the quantum chromodynamics(QCD)phase structure in the high-baryondensity region.Collective flow is a fundamental observable in heavy-ion collision experiments,providing information on the bulk properties of the produced matter.Although the standard event plane method has been widely used to measure collective flow,it is still important to validate and optimize this method for the CEE spectrometer.In this paper,we study the experimental procedures for measuring directed flow in^(238)U+^(238)U collisions at 500 MeV/u,using event planes reconstructed by Multi-Wire Drift Chamber and Zero Degree Calorimeter,respectively.Jet AA Microscopic(JAM)transport generator is used to generate events,and the detector response is simulated by the CEE Fast Simulation(CFS)package.Finally,the optimal kinematic region for proton directed flow measurements is discussed for the future CEE experiment.展开更多
The rapid expansion of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage intensify the demand for sustainable recycling strategies.Traditional metallurgical recycling methods face significant ch...The rapid expansion of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage intensify the demand for sustainable recycling strategies.Traditional metallurgical recycling methods face significant challenges,including high energy consumption,environmental pollution,and inefficient critical metals recovery.In contrast,advanced direct recycling can selectively extract valuable metals while preserving cathode structure,achieving over 99%lithium recovery from lithium iron phosphate.Moreover,by directly repairing defects and crystal structures of spent materials,their electrochemical performance can be effectively restored.Due to significantly reduced energy and reagent inputs,direct recycling cuts processing costs by over 20% and reduces waste emissions by at least 40% compared to conventional methods,making it a promising low-carbon alternative.This review systematically integrates the recent advances in direct recycling of spent batteries as well as the limitations and challenges of existing technologies,and proposes future research pathways to promote resource recycling and sustainable development.展开更多
For a multi-frequency non-reciprocal optical device,we first realize multi-frequency optical non-reciprocal transmission using a non-Hermitian multi-mode resonator array.Practically,multi-frequency operation can add c...For a multi-frequency non-reciprocal optical device,we first realize multi-frequency optical non-reciprocal transmission using a non-Hermitian multi-mode resonator array.Practically,multi-frequency operation can add channels to the non-reciprocal optical device and the non-reciprocity can route optical signals and prevent the reverse flow of noise.Using the Scully–Lamb model and gain saturation effect,we accomplish dual-frequency non-reciprocal transmission by introducing nonlinearity into a linear array of four-mode resonators.The accomplishment is directly demonstrated by the non-reciprocal transmission phenomena present in the non-divergent peaks.For example,a directional cyclic amplifier is constructed with non-reciprocal units.Regarding potential applications,non-reciprocal optical systems can be employed in dual-frequency control,parallel information processing,photonic integrated circuits,optical devices and so on.展开更多
Objective:To explore the interventional room nursing and its application effects in patients with ischemic stroke treated with tirofiban combined with direct thrombectomy.Methods:A total of 61 patients with ischemic s...Objective:To explore the interventional room nursing and its application effects in patients with ischemic stroke treated with tirofiban combined with direct thrombectomy.Methods:A total of 61 patients with ischemic stroke admitted to our hospital from June 2024 to June 2025 were selected and divided into two groups using the red and blue ball method:the control group(n=30,receiving routine interventional room nursing)and the observation group(n=31,receiving additional tirofiban medication-specific nursing+individualized interventional nursing on the basis of routine nursing).The cerebral hemodynamic indicators,adverse reactions,effectiveness of complication nursing,and nursing satisfaction were compared between the two groups.Results:After 7 days of treatment,the observation group had lower cerebrovascular peripheral resistance and higher mean blood flow velocity and mean blood flow volume compared to the control group(all p<0.05).The observation group had a higher effectiveness rate of complication nursing than the control group,with a statistically significant difference(p<0.05).The nursing satisfaction in the observation group(96.77%)was higher than that in the control group(80.00%),with a statistically significant difference(χ^(2)=4.223,p=0.040<0.05).Conclusion:Tirofiban combined with direct thrombectomy can significantly improve cerebral hemodynamics,enhance the effectiveness of complication nursing,and increase patient satisfaction in patients with ischemic stroke.展开更多
BACKGROUND Drug utilization research has an important role in assisting the healthcare administration to know,compute,and refine the prescription whose principal objective is to enable the rational use of drugs.Resear...BACKGROUND Drug utilization research has an important role in assisting the healthcare administration to know,compute,and refine the prescription whose principal objective is to enable the rational use of drugs.Research in developing nations relating to the cost of treatment is scarce when compared with developed countries.Thus,the drug utilization research studies from developing nations are most needed,and their number has been growing.AIM To evaluate patterns of utilization of antipsychotic drugs and direct medical cost analysis in patients newly diagnosed with schizophrenia.METHODS The present study was observational in type and based on a retrospective cohort to evaluate patterns of utilization of antipsychotic drugs using World Health Organization(WHO)core prescribing indicators and anatomical therapeutic chemical/defined daily dose indicators.We also calculated direct medical costs for a period of 6 months.RESULTS This study has found that atypical antipsychotics are the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia in every age group and subcategories of schizophrenia.The evaluation based on WHO prescribing indicators showed a low average number of drugs per prescription and low prescribing frequency of antipsychotics from the National List of Essential Medicines 2015 and the WHO Essential Medicines List 2019.The total mean drug cost of our study was 1396 Indian rupees.The total mean cost due to the investigation in our study was 1017.34 Indian rupees.Therefore,the total mean direct medical cost incurred on patients in our study was 4337.28 Indian rupees.CONCLUSION The information from the present study can be used for reviewing and updating treatment policy at the institutional level.展开更多
文摘Exercise produces a decrease in pain sensitivity via an effect called exercise-induced hypoalgesia(EIH).Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS),acting on similar analgesic mechanisms as EIH,represents a potential complementary intervention that may amplify the effects of exercise on pain.This study aimed to explore if anodal tDCS could enhance the effect of exercise on pain compared to exercise alone.A total of 35 healthy participants aged 19–37 years completed a familiarisation session followed by two separate sessions where active and sham tDCS was applied in a randomised cross-over design.The familiarisation session involved familiarisation to the pain assessment and exercise tasks,while the subsequent tDCS sessions involved pain sensitivity assessment,exercise and either anodal tDCS or sham tDCS.tDCS doses were applied at 2 mA over the primary motor cortex for 10 min,with the reference electrode placed over the contralateral supraorbital area.The exercise task involved a sustained isometric grip strength contraction at 35%of maximal voluntary contraction(MVC)until volitional exhaustion.Pain sensitivity was evaluated as pressure pain threshold before tDCS,after tDCS,and after exercise.Across both tDCS conditions,pain threshold was higher after exercise when compared to pre-and post-tDCS measurement.This increase in pain threshold did not differ between active and sham tDCS conditions.Our findings suggest that the hypoalgesic effects of active anodal tDCS over the motor cortex prior to exercise are no greater than the effects of sham tDCS prior to exercise.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51974155)the Outstanding Young Scientific and Technological Talents Project of University of Science and Technology Liaoning(2023YQ07)+4 种基金the University of Science and Technology Liaoning Young Foundation(2018QN06)National Natural Science Foundation of China(51774178)the National Key Research and Development Program(2021YFB3702005)the Central Government Guides Local Science and Technology Development Fund Projects(2023JH6/100100046)the Liaoning Provincial Department of Education Basic Research Projects for Universities(JYTQN2023242).
文摘Herein,the effect of direct current(DC)attached the mold on refining the microstructure and alleviating the central segregation of a tin–bismuth(Sn–10 wt.%Bi)alloy ingot during the solidification process has been investigated.The experiment used a self-made device,which can achieve the effect of refining the solidified structure and alleviate the segregation of the metal casting.Numerical simulations were performed to calculate the Lorentz force,Joule heating and induced melt vortex flow for the magneto-hydrodynamic case.Our results show that the maximum velocity of the global electro-vortex reached 0.017 m s^(–1).The DC-induced electro-vortex was found to be the primary reason of refining the equiaxed grain and alleviating the segregation of theβ-Sn crystal boundary.The grain refining effect observed in these experiments can be solely attributed to the forced melt flow driven by the Lorentz force.DC field attached the mold can lead to grain refinement and alleviate the segregation of the ingot via a global vortex.The technology can be applied not only to opened molds,but also toward improving the quality in closed molds.
基金supported by Key Natural Science Research Projects of Colleges and Universities in Anhui Province(2022AH051831).
文摘The integration of large-scale new energy and high-capacity DC transmission leads to a reduction in system inertia.Grid-forming renewable energy sources(GF-RES)has a significant improvement effect on system inertia.Commutation failure faults may cause a short-term reactive power surplus at the sending end and trigger transient overvoltage,threatening the safe and stable operation of the power grid.However,there is a lack of research on the calculation method of transient overvoltage caused by commutation failure in high-voltage DC transmission systems with grid-forming renewable energy sources integration.Based on the existing equivalent model of highvoltage DC transmission systems at the sending end,this paper proposes to construct a model of the high-voltage DC transmission system at the sending end with grid-forming renewable energy sources.The paper first clarifies the mechanism of overvoltage generation,then considers the reactive power droop control characteristics of GF-RES,and derives the transient voltage calculation model of theDC transmission system with GF-RES integration.It also proposes a calculation method for transient overvoltage at the sending-end converter bus with GF-RES integration.Based on the PSCAD/EMTDC simulation platform,this paper builds an experimental simulation model.By constructing three different experimental scenarios,the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed transient overvoltage calculation method are verified,with a calculation error within 5%.At the same time,this paper quantitatively analyzes the impact of grid strength,new energy proportion,and rated transmission power on transient overvoltage from three different perspectives.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(82471564)YT is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(32322035,32171078).
文摘Background Pain sensitivity is critical for preventing non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI)behaviours;however,individuals engaging in such behaviours often exhibit decreased pain sensitivity,which may undermine this natural safeguard.The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC)is a key region involved in pain regulation,and recent approaches using transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)to target the DLPFC have shown potential for modulating pain processing and restoring normal pain perception for individuals engaging in NSSI behaviours.Aims This study aimed to explore the immediate and short-term effects of a single session of tDCS on pain sensitivity in individuals with NSSI,as well as its secondary effects on mood and NSSI-related factors.Methods In this randomised,double-blind,parallel,sham-controlled clinical trial,participants with a history of NSSI were randomly assigned to receive either active or sham tDCS.The intervention consisted of a single 20 min tDCS session targeting the left DLPFC.The primary outcome was pain sensitivity,measured by the pressure pain threshold(PPT)and heat pain score(HPS).Secondary and additional outcomes included NSSI urges,NSSI resistance,self-efficacy in resisting NSSI,mood-related variables and exploratory cognitive-affective processes such as rumination,self-criticism and self-perceived pain sensitivity,assessed at baseline,immediately post-intervention,and at 24 hours,1 week and 2 weeks follow-ups.Results For the primary outcomes,no significant differences between groups were observed for pain sensitivity(PPT,padj=0.812;HPS,padj=0.608).However,an exploratory sensitivity analysis treating each trial as an individual observation revealed a significant effect on HPS(padj=0.036).For the secondary and additional outcomes,although there were initial improvements in joyful feelings and reductions in negative affect at 2 weeks post-intervention,these effects did not remain significant after multiple comparison corrections.Notably,reductions in rumination were statistically significant at both 1-week and 2-week follow-ups(1 week,p_(adj)=0.040;2 weeks,p_(adj)=0.042).There were no significant effects on NSSI urges,NSSI resistance,self-efficacy in resisting NSSI or self-criticism.Conclusions A single session of tDCS over the left DLPFC did not produce significant changes in pain sensitivity in individuals with NSSI.A sensitivity analysis indicated an effect on heat pain sensitivity,possibly reflecting changes in brain activity,warranting confirmation through neuroimaging.These findings suggest that tDCS warrants further investigation for its potential to influence pain-related cognitive-affective processes in individuals with NSSI.
文摘BACKGROUND Schizophrenia is a chronic psychiatric condition with complex symptomatology,including debilitating auditory hallucinations.Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)has been explored as an adjunctive treatment to alleviate such symptoms.AIM To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of tDCS in schizophrenia.METHODS Adhering to PRISMA guidelines,we systematically searched PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and the Cochrane Library on September 19,2023,for randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of tDCS in schizophrenia,with no language or time restrictions.We included studies that compared tDCS with a control condition and reported clinically relevant outcomes.Data extraction and quality assessments were performed by independent evaluators using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool.Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated,and a random-effects model was applied due to moderate heterogeneity(I2=41.3%).RESULTS Nine studies comprising 425 participants(tDCS group:219,control group:206)were included.The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in auditory hallucination scores following tDCS treatment(weighted mean difference:-2.18,95%confidence interval:-4.0 to-0.29,P<0.01).Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results,with no significant influence from individual studies.Additionally,publication bias was not detected,supporting the reliability and generalizability of the findings.These results underscore the efficacy of tDCS as a therapeutic intervention for auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia.CONCLUSION tDCS significantly reduces auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia,suggesting its potential as an effective adjunctive treatment for managing this disabling symptom.The findings highlight the practical significance of tDCS in clinical settings,particularly for patients with treatment-resistant auditory hallucinations.
基金Project(51975167)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China。
文摘In order to gain a deeper understanding of the effect of pulsed current on the mechanical properties and size effect of nanocrystalline Ni foils,nanocrystalline Ni foils with different grain thickness-to-grain size ratios(λ)were prepared using pulsed electrodeposition in this paper and unidirectional tensile experiments were carried out at room temperature with different currents and their applied directions.The experimental results show that the nanocrystalline Ni foil produces an obvious electroplasticity effect after applying the current field,and when 300<λ<1100,the current weakens the size effect of nanocrystalline Ni foils to a certain extent,and the angle between the current direction and the deformation direction also affects the mechanical response of nanocrystalline Ni foils,and when the angle between the current direction and the deformation direction is 0°,electroplasticity effect is the best,and the current has the most significant effect of abating the size effect of the material.The mechanism of unidirectional tensile deformation of nanocrystalline Ni foils under the effect of pulsed current was analyzed using TEM and TKD.It was found that the applied pulse current increased the activity of the nanocrystalline boundaries,promoted the movement of dislocations,and reduced the tendency of dislocation entanglement.The higher the peak current density and the smaller the angle between the direction of the current and the direction of deformation,the smaller the grain boundary orientation difference,the more dispersed the grain orientation,and the lower the density of geometrically necessary dislocations(GND)in the deformed nanocrystalline foil,the more significant the effect on material plasticity improvement.
文摘BACKGROUND Postoperative delirium(POD),an acute neuropsychiatric complication in elderly surgical patients,manifests as attention and cognitive disturbances that may last 24-72 hours after surgery,potentially progressing to dementia.Transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS),a non-invasive neuromodulation technique,enhances cortical excitability and cognitive function by modulating brain networks and synaptic plasticity.Elderly patients undergoing major laparoscopic surgery face elevated POD risks due to prolonged anesthesia and pneumoperitoneum-induced cerebral hypoperfusion.This study investigates whether pre-anesthesia tDCS can reduce POD incidence in this population.AIM To investigate the effect of preoperative tDCS on reducing the incidence of POD in elderly patients undergoing major laparoscopic surgery.METHODS In this study,we enrolled 220 elderly patients who underwent major laparoscopic surgery between April 2024 and December 2024.Patients were randomly assigned to the active-tDCS(group A)and sham-tDCS(group S)groups.A single session of tDCS or sham stimulation was administered 30 minutes before anesthesia induction.The primary outcome was the incidence of POD during within 3 days postoperatively.RESULTS A total of 201 patients were included in the final analysis,with 100 patients in group A and 101 in group S.The incidence of POD within 3 days postoperatively was 7.0%in group A,which was significantly lower than 22.8%in group S.On postoperative day 1,the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores significantly differed between the two groups,but the pain scores showed no significant difference.CONCLUSION A single session of preoperative tDCS can reduce the incidence of POD in elderly patients undergoing major laparoscopic surgery and can also reduce postoperative anxiety and depression in these patients.
文摘An unauthorised version of the Chinese MMSE was used in this article by the authors without permission from the copyright owner,PAR.Necessary permission has now been retrospectively obtained from PAR.The MMSE is a copyrighted instrument and may not be used or reproduced in whole or in part,in any form or language,or by any means without the written permission of PAR(www.parinc.com).
文摘The sub-forum on standardization of new energy and direct-current diversified applications was held on July 9,which gathered leaders and experts to discuss how to thoroughly implement the national green power direct connection policy proposed in the transformation of the energy landscape,pool wisdom to tackle bottlenecks in the industrialization of DC technology,and leverage the role of standardization in coordinating and regulating the diversified applications of DC technology.It was designed to promote the establishment of a collaborative,open,and advanced global standards system for DC technology.
基金partially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Nos.2016YFA0401904 and 2017YFA0701001)the State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology,Peking University(Nos.NPT2022ZZ01).
文摘Low dark current photocathode guns are highly desired for high-brightness continuous-wave operations.Direct-current superconducting radio-frequency(DC-SRF)gun,a hybrid photocathode gun combining a DC gap and an SRF cavity,effectively isolates the photocathode from the SRF cavity and offers significant advantages in terms of minimizing dark current levels.This paper presents an in-depth analysis of the dark current of a newly developed high-brightness DC-SRF photocathode gun(DC-SRF-Ⅱ gun).Particularly,a systematic experimental investigation of the dark current was conducted,and a comprehensive understanding of its formation was achieved through compliant simulations and measurements.Additionally,measures for attaining sub-nanoampere dark currents in the DC-SRF-Ⅱ gun are presented,including design considerations,cavity processing,assembly,and conditioning.The findings of this study establish a strong foundation for achieving high-performance operation of the DC-SRF-Ⅱ gun and provide a valuable reference for other photocathode guns.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFB3700801)。
文摘Low-density short-duration pulsed current-assisted aging treatment was applied to the Ti-6Al-4V-0.5Mo-0.5Zr alloy subjected to different solution treatments.The results show that numerous α_(p) phases redissolve into the new β phase during the pulsed current-assisted aging process,and then the newly formed β phase is mainly transformed into the β_(t) phase,with occasional transition to new α_(p) phase,leading to a remarkable grain refinement,especially for the lamellarαs phases.In comparison to conventional aging treatment,the pulsed current-assisted aging approach achieves a significant enhancement in strength without degrading ductility,yielding an excellent mechanical property combination:a yield strength of 932 MPa,a tensile strength of 1042 MPa,and an elongation of 12.2%.It is primarily ascribed to the increased fraction of β_(t) phases,the obvious grain refinement effect,and the slip block effect induced by the multiple-variantαs colonies distributed within β_(t) phases.
基金Supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2024ZYGXZR047)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62373156)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2024A1515011736)。
文摘This article investigates the robust current tracking control problem of three-phase grid-connected inverters with LCL filter under external disturbance by a dynamic state feedback control method.First,this paper constructs an internal model to learn the information of the states and input of the grid-connected inverter under steady state.Second,by utilizing the internal model principle,the paper turns the tracking control problem into the robust stabilization control problem based on some appropriate coordinate transformations.Then,The paper designs a dynamics state feedback control law to deal with this robust stabilization problem,and thus the solution of the robust current tracking control problem of three-phase grid-connected inverters can be obtained.This control method can ensure the asymptotic stability of the closedloop system.Finally,the paper illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed control approach through several groups of simulations,and compares it with the feedforward control method to verify the robustness of the proposed control method to uncertain parameters.
文摘The efficiency and stability of catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution(PHE)are largely governed by the charge transfer behaviors across the heterojunction interfaces.In this study,CuO,a typical semiconductor featuring a broad spectral absorption range,is successfully employed as the electron acceptor to combine with CdS for constructing a S-scheme heterojunction.The optimized photocatalyst(CdSCuO2∶1)delivers an exceptional hydrogen evolution rate of 18.89 mmol/(g·h),4.15-fold higher compared with bare CdS.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection absorption spectroscopy(UV-vis DRS)confirmed the S-scheme band structure of the composites.Moreover,the surface photovoltage(SPV)and electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)indicated that the photogenerated electrons and photogenerated holes of CdS-CuO2∶1 were respectively transferred to the conduction band(CB)of CdS with a higher reduction potential and the valence band(VB)of CuO with a higher oxidation potential under illumination,as expected for the S-scheme mechanism.Density-functional-theory calculations of the electron density difference(EDD)disclose an interfacial electric field oriented from CdS to CuO.This built-in field suppresses charge recombination and accelerates carrier migration,rationalizing the markedly enhanced PHE activity.This study offers a novel strategy for designing S-scheme heterojunctions with high light harvesting and charge utilization toward sustainable solar-tohydrogen conversion.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China(2024YFB4610803)。
文摘The fatigue crack growth rate of a novel Ti-6Al-4V-1Mo titanium alloy,which is developed for laser directed energy deposition technique,was investigated before and after cyclic heat treatment(CHT).Changes in microstructure,fracture surfaces,and crack growth paths were analyzed before and after CHT.Results indicate that in the stable crack growth region,the growth rates for the as-deposited and cyclic heat-treated specimens follow the relationships da/dN=1.8651×10^(−8)(ΔK)^(3.2271)and da/dN=1.4112×10^(−8)(ΔK)^(3.1125),respectively.Compared with that at the as-deposited state,the microstructure after CHT is transformed from a uniform basket-weave microstructure to a dual-phase microstructure consisting of near-sphericalαandβ-transformed matrix phases.The cyclic process also disrupts the continuity of the grain boundaryα(αGB)at the primaryβ-phase grain boundary.The coarsening of primaryαand the disruption ofαGB continuity are the primary factors to release stress concentration and promote crack deflection,thereby decreasing the fatigue crack growth rate.Additionally,the increased occurrence of crack branching,secondary cracking,and crack bridging in cyclic heat-treated specimens further reduces the crack driving force and slows the fatigue crack growth rate.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22475057 and No.52373262).
文摘Directional three-dimensional carbon-based foams are emerging as highly attractive candidates for promising electromagnetic wave absorbing materials(EWAMs)thanks to their unique architecture,but their construction usually involves complex procedures and extremely depends on unidirectional freezing technique.Herein,we propose a groundbreaking approach that leverages the assemblies of salting-out protein induced by ammonium metatungstate(AM)as the precursor,and then acquire directional three-dimensional carbon-based foams through simple pyrolysis.The electrostatic interaction between AM and protein ensures well dispersion of WC_(1−x)nanoparticles on carbon frameworks.The content of WC_(1−x)nanoparticles can be rationally regulated by AM dosage,and it also affects the electromagnetic(EM)properties of final carbon-based foams.The optimized foam exhibits exceptional EM absorption performance,achieving a remarkable minimum reflection loss of−72.0 dB and an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.3 GHz when EM wave propagates parallel to the directional pores.Such performance benefits from the synergistic effects of macroporous architecture and compositional design.Although there is a directional dependence of EM absorption,radar stealth simulation demonstrates that these foams can still promise considerable reduction in radar cross section with the change of incident angle.Moreover,COMSOL simulation further identifies their good performance in preventing EM interference among different electronic components.
基金supported in part by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2024YFA1610700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12475147)。
文摘The Cooling-Storage-Ring External-target Experiment(CEE)at the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou(HIRFL)is designed to study the properties of nuclear matter created in heavy-ion collisions at beam energies from a few hundred MeV/u up to 1 GeV/u.It aims to facilitate research on the quantum chromodynamics(QCD)phase structure in the high-baryondensity region.Collective flow is a fundamental observable in heavy-ion collision experiments,providing information on the bulk properties of the produced matter.Although the standard event plane method has been widely used to measure collective flow,it is still important to validate and optimize this method for the CEE spectrometer.In this paper,we study the experimental procedures for measuring directed flow in^(238)U+^(238)U collisions at 500 MeV/u,using event planes reconstructed by Multi-Wire Drift Chamber and Zero Degree Calorimeter,respectively.Jet AA Microscopic(JAM)transport generator is used to generate events,and the detector response is simulated by the CEE Fast Simulation(CFS)package.Finally,the optimal kinematic region for proton directed flow measurements is discussed for the future CEE experiment.
基金supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(52425706)。
文摘The rapid expansion of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage intensify the demand for sustainable recycling strategies.Traditional metallurgical recycling methods face significant challenges,including high energy consumption,environmental pollution,and inefficient critical metals recovery.In contrast,advanced direct recycling can selectively extract valuable metals while preserving cathode structure,achieving over 99%lithium recovery from lithium iron phosphate.Moreover,by directly repairing defects and crystal structures of spent materials,their electrochemical performance can be effectively restored.Due to significantly reduced energy and reagent inputs,direct recycling cuts processing costs by over 20% and reduces waste emissions by at least 40% compared to conventional methods,making it a promising low-carbon alternative.This review systematically integrates the recent advances in direct recycling of spent batteries as well as the limitations and challenges of existing technologies,and proposes future research pathways to promote resource recycling and sustainable development.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12475019 and 12073056)the Major National Science and Technology Project of China(Grant No.BX2024B054)+1 种基金National Lab of Solid State Microstructure of Nanjing University(Grant Nos.M35040,M35053,and M37014)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(Grant No.ZR2024MA038)。
文摘For a multi-frequency non-reciprocal optical device,we first realize multi-frequency optical non-reciprocal transmission using a non-Hermitian multi-mode resonator array.Practically,multi-frequency operation can add channels to the non-reciprocal optical device and the non-reciprocity can route optical signals and prevent the reverse flow of noise.Using the Scully–Lamb model and gain saturation effect,we accomplish dual-frequency non-reciprocal transmission by introducing nonlinearity into a linear array of four-mode resonators.The accomplishment is directly demonstrated by the non-reciprocal transmission phenomena present in the non-divergent peaks.For example,a directional cyclic amplifier is constructed with non-reciprocal units.Regarding potential applications,non-reciprocal optical systems can be employed in dual-frequency control,parallel information processing,photonic integrated circuits,optical devices and so on.
文摘Objective:To explore the interventional room nursing and its application effects in patients with ischemic stroke treated with tirofiban combined with direct thrombectomy.Methods:A total of 61 patients with ischemic stroke admitted to our hospital from June 2024 to June 2025 were selected and divided into two groups using the red and blue ball method:the control group(n=30,receiving routine interventional room nursing)and the observation group(n=31,receiving additional tirofiban medication-specific nursing+individualized interventional nursing on the basis of routine nursing).The cerebral hemodynamic indicators,adverse reactions,effectiveness of complication nursing,and nursing satisfaction were compared between the two groups.Results:After 7 days of treatment,the observation group had lower cerebrovascular peripheral resistance and higher mean blood flow velocity and mean blood flow volume compared to the control group(all p<0.05).The observation group had a higher effectiveness rate of complication nursing than the control group,with a statistically significant difference(p<0.05).The nursing satisfaction in the observation group(96.77%)was higher than that in the control group(80.00%),with a statistically significant difference(χ^(2)=4.223,p=0.040<0.05).Conclusion:Tirofiban combined with direct thrombectomy can significantly improve cerebral hemodynamics,enhance the effectiveness of complication nursing,and increase patient satisfaction in patients with ischemic stroke.
文摘BACKGROUND Drug utilization research has an important role in assisting the healthcare administration to know,compute,and refine the prescription whose principal objective is to enable the rational use of drugs.Research in developing nations relating to the cost of treatment is scarce when compared with developed countries.Thus,the drug utilization research studies from developing nations are most needed,and their number has been growing.AIM To evaluate patterns of utilization of antipsychotic drugs and direct medical cost analysis in patients newly diagnosed with schizophrenia.METHODS The present study was observational in type and based on a retrospective cohort to evaluate patterns of utilization of antipsychotic drugs using World Health Organization(WHO)core prescribing indicators and anatomical therapeutic chemical/defined daily dose indicators.We also calculated direct medical costs for a period of 6 months.RESULTS This study has found that atypical antipsychotics are the mainstay of treatment for schizophrenia in every age group and subcategories of schizophrenia.The evaluation based on WHO prescribing indicators showed a low average number of drugs per prescription and low prescribing frequency of antipsychotics from the National List of Essential Medicines 2015 and the WHO Essential Medicines List 2019.The total mean drug cost of our study was 1396 Indian rupees.The total mean cost due to the investigation in our study was 1017.34 Indian rupees.Therefore,the total mean direct medical cost incurred on patients in our study was 4337.28 Indian rupees.CONCLUSION The information from the present study can be used for reviewing and updating treatment policy at the institutional level.
