bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality Improvement Measures for Increasing the Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates at a Community Health Center
Authors: Hill Helen , Johnson Beth , Jader Lindsey , Bal Minder , Wang William , Bansal Shipra , Lewis Joy H. 
Published: November 2015

Abstract

Introduction: Direct recommendation from health care professionals has been shown to generally increase colorectal cancer screening rates in the United States. However, data for rural, underserved communities are limited.

Objective: To increase colorectal cancer screening rates at a rural community health center (CHC) by increasing health care professionals’ awareness of patients’ screening eligibility.

Methods: Participants were health care professionals at a CHC treating patients eligible for colorectal cancer screening (defined as patients aged 50-74 years who visited the CHC between February 24, 2014, and March 15, 2014, and whose electronic medical records [EMRs] had no recording of colorectal cancer screening). For a 3-week period, these participants added electronic reminders to eligible patients’ EMRs. Data reports for the screening rates of each participant, in addition to the overall CHC, were generated 4 weeks after the study period and compared with screening rates in 2013.

Results: Five health care professionals volunteered to participate. No statistically significant difference was found in screening rates of participants compared with overall clinic rates between the 2013 (P=.639) and 2014 (P=.583) sample dates. No statistically significant difference was found in the overall CHC screening rates (P=.052), which were 47.69% and 40.84% in 2013 and 2014, respectively. During the study period, 99 eligible patients were seen. An incidental finding revealed a substantial EMR flaw in uniform data system reporting measures: self-reported colorectal cancer screenings by patients, without official documentation provided, were documented in an EMR section that is not retrieved during uniform data system reporting.

Conclusion: No associated change in colorectal cancer screening rates was found at the CHC after increasing participants’ awareness of patients’ screening eligibility using electronic flagging. However, colorectal cancer screening results cannot be reported with certainty given that incidental documentation and data collection discrepancies were found.
Analysis of the substantial reduction of strain-induced mobility enhancement in (110)-oriented ultrathin double-gate MOSFETs
Authors: Choi Sujin , Sun Wookyung , Shin Hyungsoon 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
The stress effect in uniaxially strained (100)- and (110)-oriented double-gate silicon-on-insulator nMOSFETs is analyzed. A model of the silicon-thickness-dependent deformation potential (

) is used to accurately calculate the mobility by considering the quantum confinement effect. The mobility enhancements in the (100) and (110) orientations were found to exhibit considerably different silicon thickness dependencies. As the silicon thickness decreases, the mobility enhancement in the (100) case exhibits a second peak, whereas it diminishes in the (110) case. This phenomenon results from differences in the quantization mass that affect the energy differences between the first subbands of two- and four-fold degenerate valleys.
Comparative study on interface and bulk charges in AlGaN/GaN metal–insulator–semiconductor heterostructures with Al2O3, AlN, and Al2O3/AlN laminated dielectrics
Authors: Zhu Jie-Jie , Ma Xiao-Hua , Chen Wei-Wei , Hou Bin , Xie Yong , Hao Yue 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
In this paper, the interface and bulk charges in AlGaN/GaN metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) heterostructures with AlN, Al2O3, and Al2O3/AlN laminated dielectrics were studied. In situ plasma pretreatment resulted negligible interface trap states and voltage hysteresis. The fixed charge density at Al2O3/AlN (or Al2O3/barrier) interface was estimated to be 1.66 × 1013 cm−2 by using flat-band voltage shift, and the oxide bulk charge concentration was 2.86 × 1017 cm−3. The interface charge density at other interfaces were at the order of 1011 cm−2. Simulation results using the above charge density/concentration indicated that Al2O3/AlN interface fixed charges dominated the dielectric-related voltage shift in AlGaN/GaN MIS heterostructures, which caused a large voltage shift of −3 V with 10 nm Al2O3 thickness, while the flat-band voltage variety resulting from other types of charges was within 0.1 V.
Performance of the CORDEX‐Africa regional climate simulations in representing the hydrological cycle of the Niger River basin
Authors: Mascaro Giuseppe , White Dave D. , Westerhoff Paul , Bliss Nadya 
Published: November 2015

AbstractThe water resources of the Niger River basin (NRB) in West Africa are crucial to support the socioeconomic development of nine countries. In this study, we compared and evaluated performances of simulations at 0.44° resolution of several regional climate models (RCMs) of the Coordinated Regional climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) in reproducing the statistical properties of the hydrological cycle of the NRB in the current climate. To capture the large range of climatic zones in the region, analyses were conducted by spatially averaging the water balance components in four nested subbasins. Most RCMs overestimate (order of +10% to +400%, depending on model and subbasin) the mean annual difference between precipitation (P) and evaporation (E), whose observed value was assumed equal to the long‐term discharge based on the mass conservation principle. This is due to a tendency to simulate larger mean annual P and a weak hydrological cycle in the E channel. Some exceptions appear in the humid most‐upstream subbasin, where a few RCMs underestimate P. Overall, the representation of the water balance is mostly sensitive to the parameterized land surface and atmospheric processes of the nested RCMs, with less influence of the driving general circulation model. This finding is supported by further analyses on seasonal cycle and spatial variability of the water balance components and on model performances in reproducing observed climatology. Results of this work should be considered when RCMs are used directly or in impact studies to develop policies and plan investments aimed at ensuring water sustainability in the NRB.
Validation of the Self‐Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease Scale: A Scleroderma Patient‐Centered Intervention Network Cohort Study
Authors: Riehm Kira E. , Kwakkenbos Linda , Carrier Marie‐Eve , Bartlett Susan J. , Malcarne Vanessa L. , Mouthon Luc , Nielson Warren R. , Poiraudeau Serge , Nielsen Karen , Baron Murray , Frech Tracy , Hudson Marie , Pope Janet , Sauve Maureen , Suarez‐Almazor Maria E. , Wigley Fredrick M. , Thombs Brett D. ,   the Scleroderma Patient‐Centered Intervention Network Investigators
Published: November 2015

ObjectiveSelf‐management programs for patients with chronic illnesses, including rheumatic diseases, seek to enhance self‐efficacy for performing health management behaviors. No measure of self‐efficacy has been validated for patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma). The objective of this study was to assess the validity and internal consistency reliability of the Self‐Efficacy for Managing Chronic Disease (SEMCD) scale in SSc.MethodsEnglish‐speaking SSc patients enrolled in the Scleroderma Patient‐centered Intervention Network Cohort who completed the SEMCD scale at their baseline assessment between March 2014 and June 2015 were included. Patients were enrolled from 21 sites in Canada, the US, and the UK. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the factor structure of the SEMCD scale. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess internal consistency reliability. Hypotheses on the direction and magnitude of Pearson's correlations with psychological and physical outcome measures were formulated and tested to examine convergent validity.ResultsA total of 553 patients were included. CFA supported the single‐factor structure of the SEMCD scale (Tucker Lewis Index = 0.99, comparative fit index = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation = 0.10). Internal consistency was high (α = 0.93), and correlations with measures of psychological and physical functioning were moderate to large (|r| = 0.48–0.67, P < 0.001), confirming study hypotheses.ConclusionScores from the SEMCD scale are valid for measuring self‐efficacy in patients with SSc, and results support using the scale as an outcome measure to evaluate the effectiveness of self‐management programs in SSc.
Young adults with hemophilia in the U.S.: demographics, comorbidities, and health status
Authors: Curtis Randall , Baker Judith , Riske Brenda , Ullman Megan , Niu Xiaoli , Norton Kristi , Lou Mimi , Nichol Michael B. 
Published: November 2015

Improvements in hemophilia care over the last several decades might lead to expectations of a near‐normal quality of life for young adults with hemophilia. However, few published reports specifically examine health status indicators in this population. To remedy this knowledge gap, we examined the impact of hemophilia on physical and social functioning and quality of life among a national US cohort of 141 young men with hemophilia aged 18–34 years of age who received care at 10 geographically diverse, federally funded hemophilia treatment centers in 11 states between 2005 and 2013 and enrolled in the Hemophilia Utilization Group Studies. Indicators studied included educational achievement, employment status, insurance, health‐related quality of life, and prevalence of the following comorbidities: pain, range of motion limitation, overweight/obesity, and viral status. The cohort was analyzed to compare those aged 18–24 to those aged 25–34 years. When compared to the general US adult population, this nationally representative cohort of young US adults with hemophilia experienced significant health and social burdens: more liver disease, joint damage, joint pain, and unemployment as well as lower high‐school graduation rates. Nearly half were overweight or obese. Conversely, this cohort had higher levels of health insurance and equivalent mental health scores. While attention has typically focused on newborns, children, adolescents, and increasingly, on older persons with hemophilia, our findings suggest that a specific focus on young adults is warranted to determine the most effective interventions to improve health and functioning for this apparently vulnerable age group. Am. J. Hematol. 90:S11–S16, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Curing kinetics of a “green” thiol‐containing resin: Oligo(ethylene‐2‐mercaptosuccinate)
Authors: Davis Michael , Droske John P. , Zheng Wei 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTThis work focuses on examining the curing process of neat oligo(ethylene‐2‐mercaptosuccinate) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheology, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The thiol‐containing resin offers much promise as a bioabsorbable polymer in medical field and as a reusable thermoset in sustainable applications. Although curing between thiol groups has been investigated in solutions, studies of neat materials without solvent are rare. Here, the evolution of glass transition temperature (Tg), complex shear modulus (G*), gelation, and chemical structure are monitored as a function of isothermal curing time and temperature. Both Tg and G* increase with curing, indicating the formation of polymer networks. The conversion of the cure is determined from the DiBenedetto equation and is found to follow a second‐order plus second‐order autocatalytic reaction model. Importantly, the intensity of the S–H bond absorption decreases with the extent of curing, which confirms the curing mechanism, i.e., disulfide formation between the thiol groups. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43205.
Active packaging material based on buriti oil – Mauritia flexuosa L.f. (Arecaceae) incorporated into chitosan films
Authors: de F. Silva Mariangela , Lopes Patrícia S. , da Silva Classius F. , Yoshida Cristiana M. P. 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTActive and biodegradable materials have great potential in food packaging applications, improving the safety and quality of products. The objective of this study was to develop a new material based on buriti oil incorporated into a chitosan film. Different concentrations of buriti oil in dried films (2.1 g/m2, 10.4 g/m2, 20.8 g/m2, and 31.3 g/m2) were added into a chitosan matrix (41.7 g/m2). The chitosan/buriti oil films were characterized by water‐vapor barrier properties, total water‐soluble matter (TSM), tensile properties, thermogravimetric analysis, microstructure, microbial permeation properties, and biodegradation estimation. The higher oil concentration improved the water‐vapor barrier and the buriti oil acted largely as a plasticizer and increased the elongation at break, and decreased the tensile strength (TS) of chitosan films. The total water‐soluble matter of chitosan films decreased in function of the buriti oil concentration, but the biodegradation and thermal stability increased. The chitosan films presented a microbial barrier against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43210.
A glance at violet LED sensitive photoinitiators based on the spiroxanthene scaffold
Authors: Mokbel Haifaa , Poriel Cyril , Rault‐Berthelot Joëlle , Dumur Frédéric , Gigmes Didier , Toufaily Joumana , Hamieh Tayssir , Cordella Daniela , Detrembleur Christophe , Fouassier Jean Pierre , Lalevée Jacques 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTA novel photoinitiator based on a spiroxanthene scaffold in the presence of an iodonium salt is proposed for the cationic ring‐opening polymerization of a diepoxide, as well as for the free‐radical polymerization of an acrylate upon violet LED exposure (385 and 405 nm). Good‐to‐excellent rates of polymerization and final conversions are obtained. These systems are characterized by a higher reactivity compared with that of anthracene/iodonium salt used as reference for cationic near UV polymerization. The addition of a poly(ionic liquid) improves the cationic polymerization profiles. The photochemical mechanisms are studied by steady‐state photolysis, fluorescence, and electron spin resonance spin‐trapping techniques. Molecular orbital calculations give an insight into the light absorption properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43213.
Site‐selective chemical modification of chymotrypsin using peptidyl derivatives bearing optically active diphenyl 1‐amino‐2‐phenylethylphosphonate: Stereochemical effect of the diphenyl phosphonate moiety
Authors: Ono Shin , Nakai Takahiko , Kuroda Hirofumi , Miyatake Ryuta , Horino Yoshikazu , Abe Hitoshi , Umezaki Masahito , Oyama Hiroshi 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTDiphenyl (α‐aminoalkyl)phosphonates act as mechanism‐based inhibitors against serine proteases by forming a covalent bond with the hydroxy group of the active center Ser residue. Because the covalent bond was found to be broken and replaced by 2‐pyridinaldoxime methiodide (2PAM), we employed a peptidyl derivative bearing diphenyl 1‐amino‐2‐phenylethylphosphonate moiety (Phep(OPh)2) to target the active site of chymotrypsin and to selectively anchor to Lys175 in the vicinity of the active site. Previously, it was reported that the configuration of the α‐carbon of phosphorus in diphenyl (α‐aminoalkyl)phosphonates affects the inactivation reaction of serine proteases, i.e., the (R)‐enantiomeric diphenyl phosphonate is comparable to l‐amino acids and it effectively reacts with serine proteases, whereas the (S)‐enantiomeric form does not. In this study, we evaluated the stereochemical effect of the phosphonate moiety on the selective chemical modification. Epimeric dipeptidyl derivatives, Ala‐(R or S)‐Phep(OPh)2, were prepared by separation with RP‐HPLC. A tripeptidyl (R)‐epimer (Ala‐Ala‐(R)‐Phep(OPh)2) exhibited a more potent inactivation ability against chymotrypsin than the (S)‐epimer. The enzyme inactivated by the (R)‐epimer was more effectively reactivated with 2PAM than the enzyme inactivated by the (S)‐epimer. Finally, N‐succinimidyl (NHS) active ester derivatives, NHS‐Suc‐Ala‐Ala‐ (R or S)‐Phep(OPh)2, were prepared, and we evaluated their action when modifying Lys175 in chymotrypsin. We demonstrated that the epimeric NHS derivative that possessed the diphenyl phosphonate moiety with the (R)‐configuration effectively modified Lys175 in chymotrypsin, whereas that with the (S)‐configuration did not. These results demonstrate the utility of peptidyl derivatives that bear an optically active diphenyl phosphonate moiety as affinity labeling probes in protein bioconjugation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 106: 521–530, 2016.
Importance of teamwork, communication and culture on failure-to-rescue in the elderly
Authors: Ghaferi A A , Dimick J B 
Published: November 2015

Abstract

Background
Surgical mortality increases significantly with age. Wide variations in mortality rates across hospitals suggest potential levers for improvement. Failure-to-rescue has been posited as a potential mechanism underlying these differences.

Methods
A review was undertaken of the literature evaluating surgery, mortality, failure-to-rescue and the elderly. This was followed by a review of ongoing studies and unpublished work aiming to understand better the mechanisms underlying variations in surgical mortality in elderly patients.

Results
Multiple hospital macro-system factors, such as nurse staffing, available hospital technology and teaching status, are associated with differences in failure-to-rescue rates. There is emerging literature regarding important micro-system factors associated with failure-to-rescue. These are grouped into three broad categories: hospital resources, attitudes and behaviours. Ongoing work to produce interventions to reduce variations in failure-to-rescue rates include a focus on teamwork, communication and safety culture. Researchers are using novel mixed-methods approaches and theories adapted from organizational studies in high-reliability organizations in an effort to improve the care of elderly surgical patients.

Conclusion
Although elderly surgical patients experience failure-to-rescue events at much higher rates than their younger counterparts, patient-level effects do not sufficiently explain these differences. Increased attention to the role of organizational dynamics in hospitals' ability to rescue these high-risk patients will establish high-yield interventions aimed at improving patient safety.
A PDE‐based head visualization method with CT data
Authors: Chen Congkun , Sheng Yun , Li Fang , Zhang Guixu , Ugail Hassan 
Published: November 2015

AbstractIn this paper, we extend the use of the partial differential equation (PDE) method to head visualization with computed tomography (CT) data and show how the two primary medical visualization means, surface reconstruction, and volume rendering can be integrated into one single framework through PDEs. Our scheme first performs head segmentation from CT slices using a variational approach, the output of which can be readily used for extraction of a small set of PDE boundary conditions. With the extracted boundary conditions, head surface reconstruction is then executed. Because only a few slices are used, our method can perform head surface reconstruction more efficiently in both computational time and storage cost than the widely used marching cubes algorithm. By elaborately introducing a third parameter w to the PDE method, a solid head can be created, based on which the head volume is subsequently rendered with 3D texture mapping. Instead of designing a transfer function, we associate the alpha value of texels of the 3D texture with the PDE parameter w through a linear transform. This association enables the production of a visually translucent head volume. The experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the developed head visualization method. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How the mode of action affects evidence of planning and movement kinematics in aging: End‐state comfort in older adults
Authors: Scharoun Sara M. , Gonzalez Dave A. , Roy Eric A. , Bryden Pamela J. 
Published: November 2015

ABSTRACTMotor deficits are commonly observed with age; however, it has been argued that older adults are more adept when acting in natural tasks and do not differ from young adults in these contexts. This study assessed end‐state comfort and movement kinematics in a familiar task to examine this further. Left‐ and right‐handed older adults picked up a glass (upright or overturned) as if to pour water in four modes of action (pantomime, pantomime with image/cup as a guide, actual grasping). With increasing age, a longer deceleration phase (in pantomime without a stimulus) and less end‐state comfort (in pantomime without a stimulus and image as a guide) was displayed as the amount of contextual information available to guide movement decreased. Changes in movement strategies likely reflect an increased reliance on feedback control and demonstration of a more cautious movement. A secondary aim of this study was to assess hand preference and performance, considering conflicting reports of manual asymmetries with age. Performance differences in the Grooved Pegboard place task indicate left handers may display a shift towards right handedness in some, but not all cases. Summarizing, this study supports age‐related differences in planning and control processes in a familiar task, and changes in manual asymmetries with age in left handers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 58: 439–449, 2016.
Associations of dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors with mortality in hospitalized heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Sato Akihiko , Yoshihisa Akiomi , Kanno Yuki , Takiguchi Mai , Miura Shunsuke , Shimizu Takeshi , Nakamura Yuichi , Yamauchi Hiroyuki , Owada Takashi , Sato Takamasa , Suzuki Satoshi , Oikawa Masayoshi , Yamaki Takayoshi , Sugimoto Koichi , Kunii Hiroyuki , Nakazato Kazuhiko , Suzuki Hitoshi , Saitoh Shu‐ichi , Takeishi Yasuchika 
Published: November 2015

AbstractBackgroundHeart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus (DM) often co‐exist. Treatment of DM in HF patients is challenging because some therapies for DM are contraindicated in HF. Although previous experimental studies have reported that dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) inhibitors improve cardiovascular function, whether DPP‐4 inhibition improves mortality of HF patients with DM remains unclear. Therefore, we examined the impact of DPP‐4 inhibition on mortality in hospitalized HF patients using propensity score analyses.Methods and resultsWe performed observational study analysed by propensity score method with 962 hospitalized HF patients. Of these patients, 293 (30.5%) had DM, and 122 of these DM patients were treated with DPP‐4 inhibitors. Propensity scores for treatment with DPP‐4 inhibitors were estimated for each patient by logistic regression with clinically relevant baseline variables. The propensity‐matched 1:1 cohorts were assessed based on propensity scores (DPP‐4 inhibitors, n = 83, and non‐DPP‐4 inhibitors, n = 83). Kaplan–Meier analysis in the propensity score‐matched cohort demonstrated that cardiac and all‐cause mortality was significantly lower in the DPP‐4 inhibitor group than in the non‐DPP‐4 inhibitor group (cardiac mortality: 4.8% vs. 18.1%, P = 0.015; all‐cause mortality: 14.5% vs. 41.0%, P = 0.003, by a log‐rank test). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses, after adjusting for other potential confounding factors, the use of DPP‐4 inhibitors was an independent predictor of all‐cause mortality (pre‐matched cohort: hazard ratio 0.467, P = 0.010; post‐matched cohort: hazard ratio 0.370, P = 0.003) in HF patients with DM.ConclusionsOur data suggest that DPP‐4 inhibitors may improve cardiac and all‐cause mortality in hospitalized HF patients with DM.