bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative contributions of singlet and triplet excitons in the performance of organic devices
Authors: Singh Jai , Narayan Monishka R. , Ompong David 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe properties of singlet and triplet excitons are compared in organic materials for applications in optoelectronic organic solar cells (OSCs) and organic light emitting devices (OLEDs). It is found that by managing the organic material designs both singlet and triplet excitons can be beneficially used in OSCs and OLEDs equally well. A model of dissociation of excitons excited in the acceptor material of the bulk heterojunction organic solar cells is presented. It is shown that the dissociation of acceptor excitons also can contribute to the photovoltaic performance of OSCs. (© 2016 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Synthesis, characterization and testing of Cr(III)‐doped aluminum oxide/molybdate nanocomposites as luminescent probes for scanning thermal microscopy
Authors: Hizhnyi Yu. , Nedilko S. , Chornii V. , Terebilenko K. , Slobodyanik N. , Aigouy L. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe conditions of synthesis and luminescence characteristics of composites Al2O3:Cr3+/NaAl(MoO4)2:Cr3+obtained from molybdate high‐temperature solutions have been studied. The composite formation has been achieved by rapid cooling of a Na‐Al‐Cr‐Mo‐O molten solution in the range of 1173‐820 K. The sizes of the alumina inclusions in the molybdate host range from sub‐microns to tenth of microns. The composite material is transparent for light in the visible spectral region, it allows effective excitation of the Cr3+ luminescence in Cr3+‐ related absorption bands in both NaAl(MoO4)2hosts and Al2O3inclusions. At liquid helium temperature, the Al2O3:Cr3+/NaAl(MoO4)2:Cr3+composite materials simultaneously reveal luminescence of Cr3+ ions in NaAl(MoO4)2(the R‐line near 741 nm) and in Al2O3(the R1 line near 693 nm). At room temperature, the Al2O3:Cr3+ inclusions reveal Cr3+‐related R1 and R2 lines at 694.2 and 692.8 nm, respectively, whereas the luminescence of Cr3+ ions in the molybdate host is quenched. Testing of Al2O3:Cr3+ fluorescent particles in a scanning thermal microscope reveals potential of using the Cr‐doped Al2O3:Cr/NaAl(MoO4)2 nanocomposites for high‐resolution mapping of the surface temperature in 300‐380 K temperature range. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Theoretical investigation of 2DEG concentration and mobility in the AlGaN/GaN heterostructures with various Al concentrations
Authors: Abgaryan Karine , Mutigullin Ilya , Reviznikov Dmitry 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThree‐scale model for the calculation of 2DEG mobility in AlGaN/GaN heterostructures developed by our group earlier was used for the investigation of the dependence of 2DEG concentration and mobility on the Al concentration in AlGaN layer. The model allows to calculate following 2DEG properties: energy levels, corresponding wavefunctions, potential energy distribution, charge carriers concentration distribution over the heterostructure. It is also possible to calculate electron mobility in 2DEG taking into account various scattering mechanisms. In the framework of this model the values of 2DEG concentration and mobility were calculated for various Al concentrations x in AlxGa1‐xN barrier (0.15 ≤ x ≤ 1). It is also taken into consideration that maximum barrier width should decrease with increasing Al concentration in order to allow pseudomorphic growth of barrier layer. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Clinical implementation of routine screening for fetal trisomies in the UKNHS: cell‐free DNA test contingent on results from first‐trimester combined test
Authors: Gil M. M. , Revello R. , Poon L. C. , Akolekar R. , Nicolaides K. H. 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTObjectivesCell‐free DNA (cfDNA) analysis of maternal blood for detection of trisomies 21, 18 and 13 is superior to other methods of screening but is expensive. One strategy to maximize performance at reduced cost is to offer cfDNA testing contingent on the results of the first‐trimester combined test that is used currently. The objectives of this study were to report the feasibility of implementing such screening, to examine the factors affecting patient decisions concerning their options for screening and decisions on the management of affected pregnancies and to report the prenatal diagnosis of fetal trisomies and outcome of affected pregnancies following the introduction of contingent screening.MethodsWe examined routine clinical implementation of contingent screening in 11 692 singleton pregnancies in two National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in the UK. Women with a risk ≥ 1 in 100 (high‐risk group) were offered options of invasive testing, cfDNA testing or no further testing, and those with a risk between 1 in 101 and 1 in 2500 (intermediate‐risk group) were offered cfDNA testing or no further testing. The trisomic status of the pregnancies was determined by prenatal or postnatal karyotyping or by examination of the neonates.ResultsIn the study population of 11 692 pregnancies, there were 47 cases of trisomy 21 and 28 of trisomies 18 or 13. Screening with the combined test followed by invasive testing for all patients in the high‐risk group potentially could have detected 87% of trisomy 21 and 93% of trisomies 18 or 13, at a false‐positive rate of 3.4%; the respective values for cfDNA testing in the high‐ and intermediate‐risk groups were 98%, 82% and 0.25%. However, in the high‐risk group, 38% of women chose invasive testing and 60% chose cfDNA testing; in the intermediate‐risk group 92% opted for cfDNA testing. A prenatal diagnosis was made in 43 (91.5%) pregnancies with trisomy 21 and all pregnancies with trisomies 18 or 13. In many affected pregnancies the parents chose to avoid testing or termination and 32% of pregnancies with trisomy 21 resulted in live births.ConclusionsScreening for fetal trisomies by cfDNA analysis of maternal blood, contingent on the results of the combined test, can be implemented easily in routine clinical practice. In the high‐risk group from the combined test, most but not all women chose cfDNA testing rather than invasive testing. Performance of screening for trisomy 21 was superior by the cfDNA test than by the combined test. However, prenatal detection of trisomies and pregnancy outcome depend not only on performance of screening tests but also on parental choice. Copyright © 2015 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Brain dopamine‐serotonin vesicular transport disease presenting as a severe infantile hypotonic parkinsonian disorder
Authors: Jacobsen Jessie C. , Wilson Callum , Cunningham Vicki , Glamuzina Emma , Prosser Debra O. , Love Donald R. , Burgess Trent , Taylor Juliet , Swan Brendan , Hill Rosamund , Robertson Stephen P. , Snell Russell G. , Lehnert Klaus 
Published: October 2015

AbstractTwo male siblings from a consanguineous union presented in early infancy with marked truncal hypotonia, a general paucity of movement, extrapyramidal signs and cognitive delay. By mid‐childhood they had made little developmental progress and remained severely hypotonic and bradykinetic. They developed epilepsy and had problems with autonomic dysfunction and oculogyric crises. They had a number of orthopaedic problems secondary to their hypotonia. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurotransmitters were initially normal, apart from mildly elevated 5‐hydroxyindolacetic acid, and the children did not respond favourably to a trial of levodopa‐carbidopa. The youngest died from respiratory complications at 10 years of age. Repeat CSF neurotransmitters in the older sibling at eight years of age showed slightly low homovanillic acid and 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid levels. Whole‐exome sequencing revealed a novel mutation homozygous in both children in the monoamine transporter gene SLC18A2 (p.Pro237His), resulting in brain dopamine‐serotonin vesicular transport disease. This is the second family to be described with a mutation in this gene. Treatment with the dopamine agonist pramipexole in the surviving child resulted in mild improvements in alertness, communication, and eye movements. This case supports the identification of the causal mutation in the original case, expands the clinical phenotype of brain dopamine‐serotonin vesicular transport disease and confirms that pramipexole treatment may lead to symptomatic improvement in affected individuals.
How educational innovations and attention to competencies in postgraduate medical education relate to preparedness for practice: the key role of the learning environment
Authors: Dijkstra Ids S. , Pols Jan , Remmelts Pine , Rietzschel Eric F. , Cohen-Schotanus Janke , Brand Paul L.P. 
Published: October 2015

Introduction Many training programmes in postgraduate medical education (PGME) have introduced competency frameworks, but the effects of this change on preparedness for practice are unknown. Therefore, we explored how elements of competency-based programmes in PGME (educational innovations, attention to competencies and learning environment) were related to perceived preparedness for practice among new consultants.
Methods A questionnaire was distributed among 330 new consultants. Respondents rated how well their PGME training programme prepared them for practice, the extent to which educational innovations (portfolio, Mini-CEX) were implemented, and how much attention was paid to CanMEDS competencies during feedback and coaching, and they answered questions on the learning environment and general self-efficacy. Multiple regression and mediation analyses were used to analyze data.
Results The response rate was 43 % (143/330). Controlling for self-efficacy and gender, the learning environment was the strongest predictor of preparedness for practice (B = 0.42, p < 0.001), followed by attention to competencies (B = 0.29, p < 0.01). Educational innovations were not directly related to preparedness for practice. The overall model explained 52 % of the variance in preparedness for practice. Attention to competencies mediated the relationship between educational innovations and preparedness for practice. This mediation became stronger at higher learning environment values.
Conclusions The learning environment plays a key role in determining the degree to which competency-based PGME prepares trainees for independent practice.
Brief report: When does identity lead to negative affective experiences? A comparison of Turkish–Bulgarian and Turkish–German adolescents
Authors: Aydinli‐Karakulak Arzu , Dimitrova Radosveta 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACTWe examine relationships between social identity domains (ethnic, national, and religious) and negative affect among Turkish–Bulgarian and Turkish–German youth. Path analysis confirmed a multiple social identities (MSI) factor that has negative relations to experiencing negative affect for Turkish youth in both countries. Beyond this negative relationship, the component of national identity showed a positive relationship to negative affect for Turkish–Bulgarians, but not for Turkish–Germans. Our findings indicate that beyond the generally adaptive effect of MSI on youth development, unique components of social identity may not always be an asset: In an assimilative acculturation context (i.e., Bulgaria), the endorsement of national identity was not adaptive. Our research therefore highlights the need for a contextually differentiated view on “healthy” identity formation among immigrants for research and practice.
Giant colonic lipoma arising from the ileocecal valve and causing cecal‐transverse colonic intussusception
Authors: Hu Ching‐Chih , Chien Rong‐Nan , Lin Chih‐Lang , Liu Ching‐Jung 
Published: October 2015

SummaryIntussusception is rare in adults, representing only 1% of bowel obstruction and 5% of all intussusceptions. Previous reports have shown that > 90% of adults diagnosed with intussusception had an identifiable pathological leading point—a malignant tumor in 43–63% of the cases. Colonic lipomas are rare nonepithelial neoplasms, but represent the most common benign tumors in the large intestine. Most colonic lipomas present as submucosal, sessile polypoid masses with intact mucosa, and they rarely produce symptoms when < 2 cm in diameter. However, all the intussuscepted lipomas in the literature had a tumor size > 4 cm in diameter. As the clinical presentations of adult intussusception are not pathognomonic and the image study may not provide a typical presentation, a precise preoperative diagnosis of whether a benign or malignant tumor is causing the colon intussusception can be difficult. Here, we report the case of a 50‐year‐old man who presented with abdominal pain and lower gastrointestinal bleeding and was diagnosed postoperatively with ileocecal valve lipoma with cecal‐transverse colon intussusception. This report emphasizes colonic lipomas > 4 cm in diameter should receive surgical resection before intussusception develops. However, if the nature of the tumor causing colon intussusception cannot be identified before the operation, en bloc resection is recommended as there is a high risk of malignancy spreading.
Successful Implementation of an Enhanced Recovery Pathway: The Nurse's Role
Authors: Brady Karen M. , Keller Deborah S. , Delaney Conor P. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractEnhanced recovery pathways (ERPs) are standardized, multidisciplinary approaches to caring for patients with a goal of decreasing length of stay and care costs without negatively affecting patient outcomes. One facility successfully implemented ERPs for patients undergoing abdominal surgery. For implementation to be successful, nurses were found to be key in providing education, perioperative care, and postoperative evaluation, as well as cost containment. The implementation team collaborated to define, design, implement, and audit an ERP for surgical services. Initial audits demonstrated an increase in compliance with order set use (61% to 93%) and use of ERPs more than standardized order sets (< 1% to 27%), as well as decreased use of daily laboratory orders (94% to 62%) and elimination of automatically ordered laboratory tests (38% to 0%). These results led to the conclusion that the nurse's role is essential for education and successful use of the pathways and that best practices for developing ERPs requires consistency across the care team, diligence to ensure compliance, and use of an audit tool for quality improvement.
The Clinical Use of Intravenous Acetaminophen Postoperatively on Patients Who Have Undergone Bowel Surgery
Authors: Ziolkowski Kristi , Kaufman Jessica , Jambunathan Jaya , Berge Jon , Menet Luke , Chappy Sharon , Messerschmidt Marci 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine the effect of using IV acetaminophen postoperatively for 48 hours or until a return to a general diet in adult patients who have undergone bowel surgery at a Midwestern hospital. The sample included 50 adults who underwent bowel surgery and a comparison group of 50 adult patients of the same surgeons who received usual care before the intervention period. Outcome measures included the number of narcotic requests after surgery and the number of hours from the end surgical time to (1) first bowel movement, (2) return to a general diet, (3) first hallway ambulation, and (4) discharge. The data analysis revealed a significant improvement in the time to ambulation (acetaminophen group, 14.46 hours versus 30.51 hours; P = .036). The results of this project inform current postoperative care management at the Midwestern hospital in which the project was conducted.
Bypassing the blood–brian barrier using established skull base reconstruction techniques
Authors: Miyake Marcel M. , Bleier Benjamin S. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundNeurological disorders represent a profound healthcare problem accounting for 6.3% of the global disease burden. Alzheimer's disease alone is expected to impact over 115 million people worldwide by 2050 with a cost of over $1 trillion per year to the U.S. economy. Despite considerable advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis and natural history of neurological disorders, the development of disease modifying therapies have failed to keep pace. This lack of effective treatments is directly attributable to the presence of the blood–brain and blood–cerebrospinal fluid barriers (BBB and BCSFB) which prevent up to 98% of all potential neuropharmaceutical agents from reaching the central nervous system (CNS). These obstacles have thereby severely limited research and development into novel therapeutic strategies for neurological disease. Current experimental methods to bypass the BBB, including pharmacologic modification and direct transcranial catheter implantation, are expensive, are associated with significant complications, and cannot be feasibly scaled up to meet the chronic needs of a large, aging patient population.Transmucosal drug deliveryAn innovative method of direct CNS drug delivery using heterotopic mucosal grafts was described. This method is based on established endoscopic skull base nasoseptal flap reconstruction techniques. The model has successfully demonstrated CNS delivery of chromophore‐tagged molecules 1000 times larger than those typically permitted by the BBB.ConclusionsThis innovative technique represents the first described method of permanently bypassing the blood–brain barrier using purely autologous tissues. This has the potential to dramatically improve the current treatment of neurological disease by providing a safe and chronic transnasaldelivery pathway for high molecular weight neuropharmaceuticals.
Clinicopathological significance of p16, cyclin D1, Rb and MIB‐1 levels in skull base chordoma and chondrosarcoma
Authors: Liu Jun‐qi , Zhang Qiu‐hang , Wang Zhen‐lin 
Published: October 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the expression of p16, cyclin D1, retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein (Rb) and MIB‐1 in skull base chordoma and chondrosarcoma tissues, and to determine the clinicopathological significance of the above indexes in these diseases.MethodsA total of 100 skull base chordoma, 30 chondrosarcoma, and 20 normal cartilage tissue samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of p16, cyclinD1, Rb and MIB‐1 proteins were assessed for potential correlation with the clinicopathological features.ResultsAs compared to normal cartilage specimen (control), there was decreased expression of p16, and increased expression of cyclin D1, Rb and MIB‐1 proteins, in both skull base chordoma and chondrosarcoma specimens. MIB‐1 LI levels were significantly increased in skull base chordoma specimens with negative expression of p16, and positive expression of cyclin D1 and Rb (P < 0.05). Significantly elevated MIB‐1 LI was also detected in skull base chondrosarcoma tissues, while there was negative expression of p16, cyclin D1 and Rb (P < 0.05). In skull base chordoma, p16 negatively correlated with cyclin D1 and Rb, while cyclin D1 positively correlated with Rb. Additionally, p16, cyclin D1, Rb, or MIB‐1 expression showed no correlation with age, gender, or pathological classification of patients with skull base chordoma (P > 0.05). However, p16 and MIB‐1 levels correlated with the intradural invasion, and expression of p16, Rb and MIB‐1 correlated with the number of tumor foci (P < 0.05). Further, the expression of p16 and MIB‐1 appeared to correlate with the prognosis of patients with skull base chordoma.ConclusionsThe abnormal expression of p16, cyclin D1 and Rb proteins might be associated with the tumorigenesis of skull base chordoma and chondrosarcoma.
Salvage surgery for nasopharyngeal cancer
Authors: Tsang Raymond K. , Wei William I. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a special type of head and neck cancer with a widely variable geographical variation in incidence. The central location of the tumor inside the head coupled with the radiosensitivity of the tumor to radiation made radiation therapy the first choice in primary treatment of NPC. Advances in radiotherapy and chemotherapy have markedly improved the local control of NPC. Unfortunately, a small but significant number of patients still suffered from loco‐regional failures that would be amenable to re‐treatment. Traditional form of retreatment was to employ a second course of radiation. The efficacy of re‐irradiation to treat local of regional recurrent NPC has been suboptimal. Moreover, the local tissue had already received a high dose of radiation and the second radiation could result in radiation toxicities to the local tissue, leading to significant complications.Surgical salvage, on the other hand, could spare the patients from complications of re‐treatment. Due to the difficult access of the nasopharynx, various surgical approaches had been devised for nasopharyngectomy. The maxillary swing approach had the largest published experience with over 300 cases from various centers. In the recent decade, the endoscopic approach with or without robotic assistance had gained popularity for resecting small, centrally located recurrences. This minimally invasive approach further reduced the morbidity for treating locally recurrent NPC.Nodal recurrences had been a rare entity after the introduction of modern radiotherapy technique and concurrent chemotherapy. Treatment of nodal failure with second radiation has dismal results. Surgical removal of the lymph node harboring the recurrence should be in the form of a formal radical neck dissection. In cases of extensive nodal recurrence where microscopic disease may be present after a formal neck dissection, additional radiotherapy can be delivered with after‐loading brachytherapy.Surgical treatment played a definitive role in salvage of loco‐regional failures of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Diabetes and Risk of Surgical Site Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Martin Emily T. , Kaye Keith S. , Knott Caitlin , Nguyen Huong , Santarossa Maressa , Evans Richard , Bertran Elizabeth , Jaber Linda 
Published: October 2015

OBJECTIVETo determine the independent association between diabetes and surgical site infection (SSI) across multiple surgical procedures.DESIGNSystematic review and meta-analysis.METHODSStudies indexed in PubMed published between December 1985 and through July 2015 were identified through the search terms “risk factors” or “glucose” and “surgical site infection.” A total of 3,631 abstracts were identified through the initial search terms. Full texts were reviewed for 522 articles. Of these, 94 articles met the criteria for inclusion. Standardized data collection forms were used to extract study-specific estimates for diabetes, blood glucose levels, and body mass index (BMI). A random-effects meta-analysis was used to generate pooled estimates, and meta-regression was used to evaluate specific hypothesized sources of heterogeneity.RESULTSThe primary outcome was SSI, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance criteria. The overall effect size for the association between diabetes and SSI was odds ratio (OR)=1.53 (95% predictive interval [PI], 1.11–2.12; I2, 57.2%). SSI class, study design, or patient BMI did not significantly impact study results in a meta-regression model. The association was higher for cardiac surgery 2.03 (95% PI, 1.13–4.05) compared with surgeries of other types (P=.001).CONCLUSIONSThese results support the consideration of diabetes as an independent risk factor for SSIs for multiple surgical procedure types. Continued efforts are needed to improve surgical outcomes for diabetic patients.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol.2015;37(1):88–99