Condensed Layer Deposition of Nanoscopic TiO2 Overlayers on High-Surface-Area Electrocatalysts.

Encapsulating an electrocatalytic material with a semipermeable, nanoscopic oxide overlayer offers a promising approach to enhancing its stability, activity, and/or selectivity compared to an unencapsulated electrocatalyst. However, applying nanoscopic oxide encapsulation layers to high-surface-area electrodes such as nanoparticle-supported porous electrodes is a challenging task. This study demonstrates that the recently developed condensed layer deposition (CLD) method can be used for depositing nanoscopic (sub-10 nm thick) titanium dioxide (TiO2) overlayers onto high-surface-area platinized carbon foam electrodes. Characterization of the overlayers by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) showed that the films are amorphous, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that they exhibit TiO2 stoichiometry. Electrodes were also characterized by hydrogen underpotential deposition (Hupd) and carbon monoxide (CO) stripping, demonstrating that the Pt electrocatalysts remain electrochemically active after encapsulation. Additionally, copper underpotential deposition (Cuupd) measurements revealed that TiO2 overlayers are effective at blocking Cu2+ from reaching the TiO2/Pt buried interface and were used to estimate that between 43 and 98% of Pt surface sites were encapsulated. Overall, this study shows that CLD is a promising approach for depositing nanoscopic protective overlayers on high-surface-area electrodes.

Protonation of CH3 N3 and CF3 N3 in Superacids: Isolation and Structural Characterization of Long-Lived Methyl- and Trifluoromethylamino Diazonium Ions.

The methylamino diazonium cations [CH3 N(H)N2 ]+ and [CF3 N(H)N2 ]+ were prepared as their low-temperature stable [AsF6 ]- salts by protonation of azidomethane and azidotrifluoromethane in superacidic systems. They were characterized by NMR and Raman spectroscopy. Unequivocal proof of the protonation site was obtained by the crystal structures of both salts, confirming the formation of alkylamino diazonium ions. The Lewis adducts CH3 N3 ⋅AsF5 and CF3 N3 ⋅AsF5 were also prepared and characterized by low-temperature NMR and Raman spectroscopy, and also by X-ray structure determination for CH3 N3 ⋅AsF5 . Electronic structure calculations were performed to provide additional insights. Attempted electrophilic amination of aromatics such as benzene and toluene with methyl- and trifluoromethylamino diazonium ions were unsuccessful.

Review of services to inform clinical frameworks for adolescents and young adults with severe, persistent and complex mental illness.

OBJECTIVE: Severe, persistent and complex mental illness (SPCMI) affects a small proportion of young people but is associated with severe disability and a large burden on families and health services. This article identifies and describes service models for adolescents and young adults with SPCMI. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted for services for young people aged 12-25 years with SPCMI. The review sought service models providing extended care and/or multidisciplinary services to meet the complex and long-term needs of this population. RESULTS: A total of 43 sources were identified. Evidence of effectiveness was found for both community- and bed-based services. Specific components suggested as important in service delivery included care provided by multidisciplinary teams, consumer and family involvement in care planning, intensive case management and service integration through the continuum of care. CONCLUSION: Clinical frameworks for this population must incorporate effective community care integrated with inpatient treatment of short duration. Frameworks require consumer and family-centred care with flexibility to support progression through developmental stages and tasks while addressing issues related to risk management, fluctuation in illness severity and stages of recovery. A continuum of care is necessary to meet the needs that arise from SPCMI in adolescents and young adults.

Formamidinium Nitroformate: An Insensitive RDX Alternative.

Five nitroformate (trinitromethanide) salts featuring nitrogen-containing cations were prepared. The salts were characterized by multinuclear NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray analysis, differential thermal analysis, and friction and impact sensitivity testing. These experimental data are supplemented with thermochemical calculations using the Gaussian-4 composite method, and the performance of these energetic materials was calculated based on the Chapman-Jouguet thermodynamic detonation theory. Out of the five compounds studied by us, the formamidinium salt, [CH(NH2)2]+[C(NO2)3]-, is most interesting. Its performance matches that of RDX (research department explosive, cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine), while it is much less sensitive to impact and friction and, therefore, might be an excellent, less sensitive replacement for RDX.

α-Fluoroalcohols: Synthesis and Characterization of Perfluorinated Methanol, Ethanol and n-Propanol, and their Oxonium Salts.

The thermally unstable, primary perfluoroalcohols, CF3 OH, C2 F5 OH, and nC3 F7 OH, were conveniently prepared from the corresponding carbonyl compounds in anhydrous HF solution. Experimental values for the reaction enthalpies and entropies were derived from the temperature dependence of the Rf COF+HF⇄Rf CF2 OH (Rf =F, CF3 , CF3 CF2 ) equilibria by NMR spectroscopy. Electronic structure calculations of the gas-phase and solution reaction energies, gas-phase acidities and heats of formation were carried out at the G3MP2 level, showing that these compounds are strong acids. Protonation of these alcohols in HF/SbF5 produced the perfluoroalkyl oxonium salts Rf CF2 OH2 + SbF6 - .

Perfluoroalcohols: The Preparation and Crystal Structures of Heptafluorocyclobutanol and Hexafluorocyclobutane-1,1-diol.

The first X-ray crystal structure of an α-fluoroalcohol is reported. Heptafluorocyclobutanol was obtained in quantitative yield from hexafluorocyclobutanone by HF addition in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride. The compound was characterized by its X-ray single crystal structure. Heptafluorocyclobutanol readily undergoes hydrolysis to hexafluorocyclobutane-1,1-diol, which was also structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction.

Increased mortality among people with schizophrenia and other non-affective psychotic disorders in the community: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There is increasing evidence of excess mortality in schizophrenia but less information on other non-affective psychoses. We therefore generated standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for community-dwelling people with schizophrenia and other non-affective psychoses, relative to the general population, and examined changes to the SMR over time. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review in which Pubmed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Google Scholar and PsycINFO were searched for publications that reported SMRs for all-cause mortality among community-dwelling people with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders. Meta-analyses of SMRs were conducted, pooled across genders and then separately by gender. Sub-group analyses were conducted for diagnostic group, global region, decade and risk of study bias. RESULTS: We were able to include 34 studies covering 1,724,906 participants. The gender pooled SMR for schizophrenia and psychotic disorders was 3.08 (95%CI 2.88-3.31). Schizophrenia and broader psychotic disorders had similar SMRs. Stratification by decade of observation suggests that the difference in SMR is not declining and may possibly be widening. Analyses showed high levels of heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: The appearance of a static or widening mortality gap over time between people with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders and the general population is of concern. However, whether it is an increase over time is unclear, as there are insufficient studies to confirm this.

Identifying characteristics and practices of multidisciplinary team reviews for patients with severe mental illness: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Multidisciplinary teams in mental health receive limited guidance, leading to inconsistent practices. We undertook a systematic review of the characteristics and practices of multidisciplinary team reviews for patients with severe mental illness or in relevant mental health service settings. METHODS: Sources published since 2000 were located via academic database and web searches. Results were synthesised narratively. RESULTS: A total of 14 sources were analysed. Important characteristics and practices identified included routine monitoring and evaluation, good communication, equality between team members, and clear documentation practices. Success factors included defined leadership and clear team goals. Four sources described considerations for patients with complex clinical needs, including allocating sufficient time for discussion, maintaining connections with community providers, and ensuring culturally sensitive practices. CONCLUSIONS: No single best practice model was found, due to variations in team caseload, casemix, and resourcing levels. However, key ingredients for success were proposed. Sources were mostly descriptive; there remains a lack of evidence-based guidance regarding multidisciplinary team review characteristics and practices.

Assessing service use for mental health by Indigenous populations in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America: a rapid review of population surveys.

BACKGROUND: Indigenous people in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America experience disproportionately poor mental health compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts. To optimally allocate resources, health planners require information about the services Indigenous people use for mental health, their unmet treatment needs and the barriers to care. We reviewed population surveys of Indigenous people to determine whether the information needed to guide service development is being collected. METHODS: We sought national- or state-level epidemiological surveys of Indigenous populations conducted in each of the four selected countries since 1990 that asked about service use for mental health. Surveys were identified from literature reviews and web searches. We developed a framework for categorising the content of each survey. Using this framework, we compared the service use content of the surveys of Indigenous people to each other and to general population mental health surveys. We focused on identifying gaps in information coverage and topics that may require Indigenous-specific questions or response options. RESULTS: Nine surveys met our inclusion criteria. More than half of these included questions about health professionals consulted, barriers to care, perceived need for care, medications taken, number, duration, location and payment of health professional visits or use of support services or self-management. Less than half included questions about interventions received, hospital admissions or treatment dropout. Indigenous-specific content was most common in questions regarding use of support services or self-management, types of health professionals consulted, barriers to care and interventions received. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological surveys measuring service use for mental health among Indigenous populations have been less comprehensive and less standardised than surveys of the general population, despite having assessed similar content. To better understand the gaps in mental health service systems for Indigenous people, systematically-collected subjective and objective indicators of the quality of care being delivered are needed.

In an open publishing house not so far, far away .

SUMMARY: As BJPsych Open completes its first circle around the sun and marks its first anniversary, we share with you its strengths and advantages that underpin its success as a new journal. First and foremost, the editorial team has maintained rigorous scientific standards while pursuing an open access publishing model that, by design, accommodates a broad range of clinical and scientific topics. Fundamental to BJPsych Open's mission has been our policy of accepting papers that are both methodologically sound and intellectually stimulating. The calibre of the journal has already been recognised, with recent notification of indexing all its content in PubMed Central. This reflects the quality of submissions and is the result of concerted efforts by the authors, the editorial board, the many selfless reviewers and our dedicated staff in the journal office. We urge you to join us on this exciting journey and look to your input as authors, readers and reviewers to help shape this fledgling enterprise, destined to become a force to be reckoned with. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS: None. COPYRIGHT AND USAGE: © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2016. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Non-Commercial, No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license.

Prevalence of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India: a systematic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Population-representative prevalence data for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders are essential for evidence-based decision making. As a background to the China-India Mental Health Alliance Series, we aim to examine the availability of data and report prevalence for the most common mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India from the Global Burden of Disease study 2013 (GBD 2013). METHODS: In this systematic analysis, data sources were identified from GBD 2013 for the prevalence of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India published up to Dec 31, 2013. We calculated the proportion of the population represented by the data with the adjusted population coverage (APC) method adjusting for age, sex, and population size. We developed prevalence models with DisMod-MR 2.0, a Bayesian meta-regression instrument used to pool population-representative epidemiological data as part of GBD 2013. We report estimates and 95% uncertainly intervals (95% UI) for 15 mental, neurological, and substance use disorders for China and India in 1990 and 2013, and benchmark these against those for other BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, and South Africa) in 2013. FINDINGS: Few population-representative data were found for the disorders, with an average coverage of 15% of the population of the Chinese mainland and 1% of the population of India. For men in both China and India, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, and alcohol dependence were the most common mental, neurological, and substance use disorders. Prevalence of major depressive disorder was 2·2% (95% UI 1·5-2·8) in Chinese men and 3·5% (2·4-4·6) in Indian men; prevalence of anxiety disorders was 2·0% (1·1-3·2) and 1·9% (1·2-2·3), respectively. For women, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and dysthymia were the most common. Prevalence of major depressive disorder was 3·3% (2·3-4·1) in Chinese women and 4·7% (95% UI 3·3-6·2) in Indian women; prevalence of anxiety disorders was 3·3% (1·6-5·3) and 4·1% (3·3-5·0), respectively. Schizophrenia was more prevalent in China (0·5%, 95% UI 0·4-0·5) than in India (0·2%; 0·2-0·2). INTERPRETATION: More data for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders are needed for India and China but the large population and geographic scale of these countries present challenges to population-representative data collection. FUNDING: China-India Mental Health Alliance, China Medical Board.

Social correlates of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India: a review.

Understanding the epidemiological profiles of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders provides opportunities for the identification of high-risk population subgroups and for the development of effective country-specific prevention and intervention strategies. Guided by the Conceptual Framework for Action on the Social Determinants of Health by WHO we reviewed the literature to examine the association between a range of social correlates (eg, sex, age, education, income, urbanicity, marital status, and regional differences) and mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India, the most populous countries in the world. We looked for papers on mental, neurological, and substance use disorders with location identifiers and socioeconomic correlates published between 1990 and 2015 and our search found 65 relevant studies from China and 29 from India. Several association patterns between social correlates and mental, neurological, and substance use disorders were not consistent with those reported in high-income countries, including a high concentration of middle-aged men with alcohol use disorders in China and to a lesser extent in India, and a positive association between being married and depression among women in India. Consistent with previous global reports, low education and poverty were associated with higher occurrence of dementia in both China and India, although there is evidence of an interaction between education and income in the risk for dementia in China. Large variations across regions and ethnic groups were consistently documented in China. These unique correlation patterns for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders identified in China and India emphasise the importance of understanding the local social context when planning targeted strategies to reduce the burden of these disorders. High-quality, up-to-date information about the constantly changing pattern of societal factors correlated with mental, neurological, and substance use disorders is urgently needed to help reduce the large and increasing negative social and economic effects that these conditions are having in China, India, and other low-income and middle-income countries.

Systematic review of interventions for Indigenous adults with mental and substance use disorders in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to systematically review the evidence-base for the effectiveness of culturally unadapted, culturally adapted and culture-based interventions for Indigenous adults with mental or substance use disorders. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of scientific databases, government websites and web-based Indigenous research repositories. We sought studies using designs comparing an intervention group to a control/comparator group or pre- and post-test designs, published between 2000 and 2015 examining interventions to improve individual-level outcomes (e.g. remission, symptoms, quality of life, functioning) or service-level outcomes (e.g. number of interventions delivered) for Indigenous adults with mental or substance use disorders in Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the United States. RESULTS: A total of 16 studies met inclusion criteria. Virtually all North American studies (6 US and 1 Canadian) evaluated culturally unadapted interventions, all of which were interventions for substance use. Two-thirds of Australian and New Zealand studies evaluated culturally adapted interventions and included samples with mental disorders. Of eight culturally unadapted psychological/psychosocial, pharmacological and educational intervention studies, seven reported significant improvements on at least one measure of psychological well-being, mental health problem severity, or significantly reduced alcohol or illicit drug use. Of seven culturally adapted psychological/psychosocial intervention studies, all reported significant improvement on at least one measure of symptoms of mental illness, functioning, and alcohol use. One culture-based psychological/psychosocial intervention study significantly reduced problem severity in medical and psychiatric domains. CONCLUSION: There remains inconclusive evidence regarding interventions due to a small and methodologically weak evidence-base. The literature would be enhanced by intervention replication and outcome standardisation, validating the outcome instruments used in Indigenous populations, including sample size calculations and using stronger research designs (e.g. interrupted time-series designs). Robust implementation and outcomes research is needed to further progress evidence-based practice in Indigenous mental health.

The burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India: a systematic analysis of community representative epidemiological studies.

BACKGROUND: China and India jointly account for 38% of the world population, so understanding the burden attributed to mental, neurological, and substance use disorders within these two countries is essential. As part of the Lancet/Lancet Psychiatry China-India Mental Health Alliance Series, we aim to provide estimates of the burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders for China and India from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013). METHODS: In this systematic analysis for community representative epidemiological studies, we conducted systematic reviews in line with PRISMA guidelines for community representative epidemiological studies. We extracted estimates of prevalence, incidence, remission and duration, and mortality along with associated uncertainty intervals from GBD 2013. Using these data as primary inputs, DisMod-MR 2.0, a Bayesian meta-regression instrument, used a log rate and incidence-prevalence-mortality mathematical model to develop internally consistent epidemiological models. Disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) changes between 1990 and 2013 were decomposed to quantify change attributable to population growth and ageing. We projected DALYs from 2013 to 2025 for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders using United Nations population data. FINDINGS: Around a third of global DALYs attributable to mental, neurological, and substance use disorders were found in China and India (66 million DALYs), a number greater than all developed countries combined (50 million DALYs). Disease burden profiles differed; India showed similarities with other developing countries (around 50% of DALYs attributable to non-communicable disease), whereas China more closely resembled developed countries (around 80% of DALYs attributable to non-communicable disease). The overall population growth in India explains a greater proportion of the increase in mental, neurological, and substance use disorder burden from 1990 to 2013 (44%) than in China (20%). The burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders is estimated to increase by 10% in China and 23% in India between 2013 and 2025. INTERPRETATION: The current and projected burden of mental, neurological, and substance use disorders in China and India warrants the urgent prioritisation of programmes focused on targeted prevention, early identification, and effective treatment. FUNDING: China Medical Board, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Protonation of nitriles: isolation and characterization of alkyl- and arylnitrilium ions.

The reactions of acetonitrile, propionitrile, butyronitrile, N,N-dimethylaminoacetonitrile, benzonitrile, o-tolunitrile and 1,4-dicyanobenzene with HF/AsF5 or HF/SbF5 in anhydrous HF result in protonation of the nitrile. The obtained nitrilium ions were isolated as [AsF6](-), [SbF6](-) and [Sb2F11](-) salts and characterized by multinuclear NMR and vibrational spectroscopy, and their X-ray crystal structures.

Reducing excess mortality due to chronic disease in people with severe mental illness: meta-review of health interventions.

BACKGROUND: People with severe mental illness (SMI) have high rates of chronic disease and premature death. AIMS: To explore the strength of evidence for interventions to reduce risk of mortality in people with SMI. METHOD: In a meta-review of 16 systematic reviews of controlled studies, mortality was the primary outcome (8 reviews). Physiological health measures (body mass index, weight, glucose levels, lipid profiles and blood pressure) were secondary outcomes (14 reviews). RESULTS: Antipsychotic and antidepressant medications had some protective effect on mortality, subject to treatment adherence. Integrative community care programmes may reduce physical morbidity and excess deaths, but the effective ingredients are unknown. Interventions to improve unhealthy lifestyles and risky behaviours can improve risk factor profiles, but longer follow-up is needed. Preventive interventions and improved medical care for comorbid chronic disease may reduce excess mortality, but data are lacking. CONCLUSIONS: Improved adherence to pharmacological and physical health management guidelines is indicated.

Convenient Access to α-Fluorinated Alkylammonium Salts.

A series of novel α-fluoroalkyl ammonium salts was obtained from the corresponding cyano compounds or nitriles by reaction with anhydrous HF. Room-temperature stable trifluoromethyl ammonium salts were obtained in quantitative yield in a one-step reaction at ambient temperature from the commercially available starting materials BrCN or ClCN. The novel cations [CF3CF2NH3](+), [HCF2CF2NH3](+), and [(NH3CF2)2](2+) were obtained from CF3CN, HCF2CN, and (CN)2, respectively, and anhydrous HF. The aforementioned fluorinated ammonium cations were isolated as room temperature stable [AsF6](-) and/or [SbF6](-) salts, and characterized by multi-nuclear NMR and vibrational spectroscopy. The salts [HCF2NH3][AsF6] and [CF3NH3][Sb2F11] were characterized by their X-ray crystal structure.

Males' mental health disadvantage: An estimation of gender-specific changes in service utilisation for mental and substance use disorders in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Concerns about low levels of service utilisation for mental and substance use disorders in Australia - especially among males - have prompted targeted help-seeking and stigma-reduction initiatives. Resulting changes in service utilisation according to gender are unknown. We modelled the percentage of Australian males with a mental or substance use disorder who used services each year between 2006-2007 and 2011-2012, and the types of services they used, relative to females. METHODS: Twelve-month prevalence of mental and substance use disorders, stratified by gender, was synthesised from existing estimates. The percentage of males and females with these disorders who used mental health services in each year from 2006-2007 to 2011-2012 was modelled from published programme activity data, supplemented by analyses of epidemiological survey data. Uncertainty analysis quantified the effects of sampling error and assumptions on the estimates. RESULTS: Modelling showed a significant increase in the percentage of people with mental or substance use disorders who used services for their mental health - from 32.0% in 2006-2007 to 40.0% in 2011-2012 in males and from 45.1% in 2006-2007 to 54.6% in 2011-2012 in females. Growth was driven largely by uptake of private specialised services - males' use of these services grew by 92.7% and females' by 115.4%. There appeared to be a non-significant decrease in use of general practitioner-only mental health care for males (-17.9%), and a significant decrease in the same for females (-35.1%); however, some assumptions made in the modelling of general practitioner-only care require validation. In 2006-2007, the percentage of females treated was 40.9% higher than for males; in 2011-2012, it was 36.6% greater. CONCLUSIONS: Recently implemented initiatives have improved males' likelihood of service utilisation, particularly their use of specialised mental health services. Although the gender gap may have narrowed, improving males' access to services should remain a policy priority.

Pulsed magnetic field induced fast drug release from magneto liposomes via ultrasound generation.

Fast drug delivery is very important to utilize drug molecules that are short-lived under physiological conditions. Techniques that can release model molecules under physiological conditions could play an important role to discover the pharmacokinetics of short-lived substances in the body. Here an experimental method is developed for the fast release of the liposomes' payload without a significant increase in (local) temperatures. This goal is achieved by using short magnetic pulses to disrupt the lipid bilayer of liposomes loaded with magnetic nanoparticles. The drug release has been tested by two independent assays. The first assay relies on the AC impedance measurements of MgSO4 released from the magnetic liposomes. The second standard release assay is based on the increase of the fluorescence signal from 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein dye when the dye is released from the magneto liposomes. The efficiency of drug release ranges from a few percent to up to 40% in the case of the MgSO4. The experiments also indicate that the magnetic nanoparticles generate ultrasound, which is assumed to have a role in the release of the model drugs from the magneto liposomes.

The regional distribution of anxiety disorders: implications for the Global Burden of Disease Study, 2010.

Anxiety disorders are increasingly acknowledged as a global health issue however an accurate picture of prevalence across populations is lacking. Empirical data are incomplete and inconsistent so alternate means of estimating prevalence are required to inform estimates for the new Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. We used a Bayesian meta-regression approach which included empirical epidemiological data, expert prior information, study covariates and population characteristics. Reported are global and regional point prevalence for anxiety disorders in 2010. Point prevalence of anxiety disorders differed by up to three-fold across world regions, ranging between 2.1% (1.8-2.5%) in East Asia and 6.1% (5.1-7.4%) in North Africa/Middle East. Anxiety was more common in Latin America; high income regions; and regions with a history of recent conflict. There was considerable uncertainty around estimates, particularly for regions where no data were available. Future research is required to examine whether variations in regional distributions of anxiety disorders are substantive differences or an artefact of cultural or methodological differences. This is a particular imperative where anxiety is consistently reported to be less common, and where it appears to be elevated, but uncertainty prevents the reporting of conclusive estimates.