bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Multicenter Collaborative Approach to Reducing Pediatric Codes Outside the ICU
Authors: Hayes Leslie W. , Dobyns Emily L. , DiGiovine Bruno , Brown Ann-Marie , Jacobson Sharon , Randall Kelly H. , Wathen Beth , Schwab Carolyn , Duncan Kathy D. , Thrasher Jodi , Logsdon Tina R. , Hall Matthew , Markovitz Barry 
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVES:
The Child Health Corporation of America formed a multicenter collaborative to decrease the rate of pediatric codes outside the ICU by 50%, double the days between these events, and improve the patient safety culture scores by 5 percentage points.

METHODS:
A multidisciplinary pediatric advisory panel developed a comprehensive change package of process improvement strategies and measures for tracking progress. Learning sessions, conference calls, and data submission facilitated collaborative group learning and implementation. Twenty Child Health Corporation of America hospitals participated in this 12-month improvement project. Each hospital identified at least 1 noncritical care target unit in which to implement selected elements of the change package. Strategies to improve prevention, detection, and correction of the deteriorating patient ranged from relatively simple, foundational changes to more complex, advanced changes. Each hospital selected a broad range of change package elements for implementation using rapid-cycle methodologies. The primary outcome measure was reduction in codes per 1000 patient days. Secondary outcomes were days between codes and change in patient safety culture scores.

RESULTS:
Code rate for the collaborative did not decrease significantly (3% decrease). Twelve hospitals reported additional data after the collaborative and saw significant improvement in code rates (24% decrease). Patient safety culture scores improved by 4.5% to 8.5%.

CONCLUSIONS:
A complex process, such as patient deterioration, requires sufficient time and effort to achieve improved outcomes and create a deeply embedded culture of patient safety. The collaborative model can accelerate improvements achieved by individual institutions.
Prevention of Tracheostomy-related Pressure Ulcers in Children
Authors: Boesch R. Paul , Myers Christine , Garrett Tonia , Nie AnnMarie , Thomas Natalie , Chima Amrita , McPhail Gary L. , Ednick Mathew , Rutter Michael J. , Dressman Kathy 
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:
Pressure ulcers are commonly acquired in pediatric institutions, and they are a key indicator of the standard and effectiveness of care. We recognized a high rate of tracheostomy-related pressure ulcers (TRPUs) in our ventilator unit and instituted a quality improvement program to develop and test potential interventions for TRPU prevention, condensed them into a clinical bundle, and then implemented the bundle into our standard practice.

METHODS:
The intervention model used a rapid-cycle, Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA), framework for improvement research. All tracheostomy-dependent patients admitted to our 18-bed ventilator unit from July 2008 through December 2010 were included. TRPU stage and description, number of days each TRPU persisted, and bundle compliance were recorded in real time. All TRPUs were staged by a wound-care expert within 24 hours. The interventions incorporated into the TRPU-prevention bundle included frequent skin and device assessments, moisture-reducing device interface, and pressure-free device interface.

RESULTS:
There was a significant decrease in the rate of patients who developed a TRPU from 8.1% during the preintervention period, to 2.6% during bundle development, to 0.3% after bundle implementation. There was a marked difference between standard and extended tracheostomy tubes in TRPU occurrence (3.4% vs 0%, P = .007) and days affected by a TRPU (5.2% vs 0.1%, P &lt; .0001).

CONCLUSIONS:
Education and ongoing assessment of skin integrity and the use of devices that minimize pressure at the tracheostomy–skin interface effectively reduce TRPU even among a population of children at high risk. These interventions can be integrated into daily workflow and result in sustained effect.
Longitudinal Follow-up of Poor Inner-city Youth Between Ages 8 and 18: Intentions Versus Reality
Authors: Handzel Jennifer M. , Brodsky Nancy , Betancourt Laura , Hurt Hallam 
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVES:
(1) To document, at ages 8 to 10, children’s perceptions of their future and, at ages 16 to 18, youth outcomes; and (2) to assess early childhood factors associated with trajectory-altering events (TAEs), defined as youth risk behaviors that may modify developmental trajectories.

METHODS:
A prospective longitudinal study of 97 poor, inner-city, African American youth followed since birth who completed (1) early childhood environment, cognitive, and social-emotional evaluations, as well as an inventory at ages 8 to 10 of perceptions of their futures; and (2) evaluation for presence or absence of 4 TAEs documented at ages 16 to 18: drug use, adjudication, school failure, and teen parenthood.

RESULTS:
At age 9.4 ± 0.5, 94% of participants felt it unlikely they would try marijuana; 93% felt they were unlikely to get arrested; 92% felt they were likely to attend college or trade school; 81% did not know one could become pregnant with first-time sex. Age 18.1 ± 0.8 outcomes showed that 33% had used drugs, 33% had been adjudicated, 19% had school failure, and 20% had become parents. Fifty-six percent had ≥1 TAE. No relationship was found between childhood perceptions and intentions and documented outcomes. Odds of having a TAE increased with greater exposure to violence and poorer home environment.

CONCLUSIONS:
Young inner-city children are idealistic regarding their future. By ages 16 to 18 however, more than half of this cohort had a TAE. Factors most strongly associated with a TAE were greater exposure to violence and poorer home environment.
Impaired Fetal Growth and Arterial Wall Thickening: A Randomized Trial of Omega-3 Supplementation
Authors: Skilton Michael R. , Ayer Julian G. , Harmer Jason A. , Webb Karen , Leeder Stephen R. , Marks Guy B. , Celermajer David S. 
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVES:
Impaired fetal growth is an independent cardiovascular risk factor and is associated with arterial wall thickening in children. No preventive strategy has been identified. We sought to determine whether dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during early childhood prevents the association between impaired fetal growth and carotid arterial wall thickening.

METHODS:
The Childhood Asthma Prevention Study was a randomized, controlled single-blind trial in 616 children born at term, recruited antenatally from maternity hospitals in Sydney. Participants were randomized to either a 500-mg-daily fish oil supplement and canola-based margarines and cooking oil (omega-3 group), or a 500-mg-daily sunflower oil supplement and omega-6 fatty acid–rich margarines and cooking oil (control group), from the start of bottle-feeding or 6 months of age until 5 years of age. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a noninvasive measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, was the primary endpoint of a cardiovascular substudy (CardioCAPS) at age 8 years. We examined the association of fetal growth with carotid IMT in children with birth weight &lt;90th percentile (omega-3 group [n = 187], control group [n = 176]).

RESULTS:
In the control group, fetal growth was inversely associated with carotid IMT, but this was prevented in the omega-3 group (difference between groups of 0.041 mm [95% confidence interval 0.006, 0.075] per kg birth weight, adjusted for gestational age and gender, Pheterogeneity = .02).

CONCLUSIONS:
The inverse association of fetal growth with arterial wall thickness in childhood can be prevented by dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation over the first 5 years of life.
Thermite Initiation Processes and Thresholds
Authors: Johnson Curtis E. , Higa Kelvin T. , Tran Thao T. , Albro W. Rick 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTThe objectives of this work are to characterize thermite initiation processes and thresholds, and to develop thermite reactive trains, where a sensitive nanothermite ignites an insensitive micron thermite, which produces little gas. Nanothermites, including Al/AgIO3, Al/Bi2O3, Al/MoO3, Al/Fe3O4, and Ti/AgIO3, were characterized for their ignition behavior by spark and resistive heating. Energies for spark and thermal initiation were as low as 9 and 140 μJ, respectively. Thermal initiation results were consistent with local temperature as the main controlling factor. The propagation rate of the Al/Fe3O4 nanothermite was about 100X slower than that of the other nanothermites. This low reactivity is attributed to the high volatilization temperature and high melting point of the oxidizer. Mixing of 90% Al/Fe3O4 nanothermite with 10% of a more sensitive, high-gas-producing nanothermite gave materials with the same sensitivity as the sensitive nanothermite. Thus, the mixture provides a safer sensitive nanothermite. Thermites with micron-scale ingredients were pressed into pellets and ignited with small amounts of nanothermite. Gas production of micron thermite compositions was reduced by adding the intermetallic composite, Ti/2B, or excess iron. In both cases, a single hot mass was produced, while the pure micron Al/Fe2O3 produced a dispersion of particles.
Surface Modification of Polycarbonateurethane by Grafting Phosphorylcholine Glyceraldehydes for Improving Hemocompatibility
Authors: Gao Wei , Feng Yakai , Lu Jian , Guo Jintang 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTPhosphorylcholine glyceraldehyde (PCGA) was used as a phosphorylcholine (PC) group containing compound to graft onto the surface of polycarbonateurethane (PCU) film using 1,6-hexanediamine (HDA) or α,ω-diamino-poly(ethylene glycol) (APEG, Mn = 200) as a spacer, in order to introduce biomimetic structure onto the polymer surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis shows that PCGA has been covalently linked to the PCU surface. Water contact angle test suggests that the surface hydrophilicity has been improved after PCGA is grafted onto the surface of PCU film. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation of the modified PCU films after contacting with plasma-rich plasma demonstrates that platelets rarely adhere but a large number of platelets adhere to the original PCU surface. The hemocompatibility of the PC modified PCU film has been improved obviously after grafting with PCGA with PEG spacer.
Gelation Characteristics and Encapsulation of Stromal Cells in Star Acrylate-Functionalized Poly(ethylene glycol-co-lactide) Macromonomers
Authors: Moeinzadeh Seyedsina , Barati Danial , He Xuezhong , Jabbari Esmaiel 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTIn this work, a novel star 4-arm poly(ethylene glycol-co-lactide) acrylate macromonomer (SPELA) is synthesized, and the effect of macromonomer concentration and architecture on modulus, swelling ratio and sol fraction is investigated. The results show that the storage modulus of the hydrogel had an increasing trend with polymer concentration. Changing the polymer architecture from linear to 4-arm increased the storage modulus by 2.2-fold. The water content depended on the hydrophilic segment density as well as the extent of crosslinking and showed a decreasing trend with macromonomer concentration. The sol fractions of the SPELA hydrogels changed from 13% to 5% when concentration increased from 10% to 25%. The star SPELA hydrogel with high modulus, fast gelation time, and low sol fraction is potential useful as a degradable carrier in cell-based therapies. Results show that the SPELA hydrogel supports viability and osteogenic differentiation of the encapsulated bone marrow stromal cells.
Optimization of Alloy-Coating Compositions for Use as Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Interconnects
Authors: Fergus Jeffrey W. , Zhao Yu , Liu Yingjia 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTReduction in the operating temperature of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) allows for the use of ferritic stainless steels as the interconnect material. However, cathode poisoning due to volatilization of chromium from the oxide scale formed on these alloys requires the use of a ceramic coating on the alloy. The reaction layer formed between the coating and the alloy affects the performance of the fuel cell, so the composition and properties of this layer must be considered in selecting the alloy and coating compositions. In this paper, the factors relevant to selection of the alloy/coating materials and the effect of the alloy-coating interaction on these factors are discussed.
Roles of boron in growth of diamond grains in ultrananocrystalline diamond/hydrogenated amorphous carbon composite films prepared by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Ohmagari Shinya , Katamune Yūki , Ichinose Hikaru , Yoshitake Tsuyoshi 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTBoron doped ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD)/hydrogenated amorphous carbon composite films prepared by pulsed laser deposition were structurally investigated. With an increase in the boron content, the grain size was increased from 5 to 23 nm accompanying by the lattice constant approaching to that of bulk diamond. The near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure revealed that boron atoms are preferentially distributed into grain boundaries. On the basis of the results, the roles of the boron atoms in the enhanced crystalline growth are discussed. We consider that the crystalline growth posterior to the nucleation is facilitated by boron atoms existing neighbor to UNCD grains or by boron-containing energetic species in plasma.
Modeling of Early Stages of Formation of Poly-CO
Authors: Batyrev I. G. , Mattson W. D. , Rice B. M. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTWe studied the early stages of polymerization of CO under pressure. We performed DFT simulations of 128 and 432 atom models. Structures of random networks found at zero temperature were used for equilibration at 100 K by employing first principles MD. We found that the polymerization begins at 7 - 8 GPa and slightly depends on the size of the model. It turned out that there are several metastable phases of the extended CO solid, corresponding to different compression pressures from 7 - 8 GPa to 15-18 GPa with different numbers of CO fragments, not connected to the random network. We also found that the transition to the phases is irreversible which results in hysteresis loops. Random network structures obtained, say, under 18 GPa could exist at 3 GPa, whereas compression to 3 GPa results in the delta phase of CO crystal, with intact CO fragments and minor distortion of the cubic phase. To analyze the random structure fragments we calculated normal modes and IR intensities using the dipole approximation. Contributions from the main motifs of the random network are identified and compared with experimental IR measurements.
Gas Diffusion Media for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Made from Carbon Fibers with Controlled Conductivity
Authors: Nicotera Paul , Evans Robert , Weaver Christopher , Abel Chuang Po-Ya 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTSamples of carbon fiber were prepared from polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based precursors, covering a range of electrical resistivity from 0.9 to 1,000 mΩ cm corresponding to a range of carbonization heat treatment temperatures (HTT) estimated to be between 700 and 2600°C. Experimental gas diffusion media (GDM) were made from these fibers using conventional phenolic resin/carbon fiber construction, prepared at two different carbonization temperatures (950 and 2150°C). GDM thermal and electrical properties displayed similar trends with respect to fiber and paper HTT. Unexpectedly, GDM bending and shear moduli increased with fiber resistivity, possibly due to shortening of the lower resistivity fiber types during GDM production. Results showed that high HTT of either the carbon fiber or the paper was sufficient to enable average (“wet” and “dry”) 5-cm2 fuel cell performance comparable to current state-of-the-art GDM. A proprietary GDM wet-laid production model predicts a potential cost reduction of about 2% at 20 million m2 annual production by reducing the paper HTT.
AlN/GaN Distributed Bragg Reflectors Grown via Metal Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy using GaN Insertion Layers
Authors: Rodak L. E. , Peacock J. , Justice J. , Korakakis D. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTDistributed Bragg Reflectors (DBRs) are an important component of various optoelectronic devices for ultra violet and visible wavelengths. In the III-Nitride material system, Aluminum Nitride (AlN) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) offer a large contrast in refractive index and are therefore well suited for fabricating DBRs with high reflectivity and wide bandwidths using relatively few periods. However, the large lattice and thermal mismatch leads to cracking in these heterostructures. In this work short period superlattice layers have been used to fabricate high reflectivity (> 94%) nitride based DBRs via Metal Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy. Short period AlN/GaN superlattices containing three to four monolayers of GaN have been employed as the low refractive index layer in DBRs to minimize cracking. Using this technique, crack-free DBRs reflecting from 440-475 nm with up to 25 periods have been fabricated. The technique has been proven to be versatile and resulted in large area yield DBRs grown on a variety of different sapphire substrates.
Molecular Beam Epitaxial Growth of Nonpolar a-plane InN/ GaN Heterostructures
Authors: Rajpalke Mohana K. , Bhat Thirumaleshwara N. , Roul Basanta , Kumar Mahesh , Krupanidhi S. B. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTNonpolar a-plane InN/GaN heterostructures were grown by plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The growth of nonpolar a- plane InN / GaN heterostructures were confirmed by high resolution x-ray diffraction study. Reflection high energy electron diffraction patterns show the reasonably smooth surface of a-plane GaN and island-like growth for nonpolar a-plane InN film, which is further confirmed by scanning electron micrographs. An absorption edge in the optical spectra has the energy of 0.74 eV, showing blueshifts from the fundamental band gap of 0.7 eV. The rectifying behavior of the I-V curve indicates the existence of Schottky barrier at the InN and GaN interface. The Schottky barrier height (φb) and the ideality factor (η) for the InN/GaN heterostructures found to be 0.58 eV and 2.05 respectively.
Structures of Bromoinated Oligothiophenes and Ethylenedioxythiophenes: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study
Authors: Bader Mamoun M. , Pham Phuong-Truc T. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTIn this work, we report the results of solid state structural study of a series of oligothiophenes and ethylenedioxythiophenes (EDOT) endowed with bromine atoms at different positions and in the presence/absence of the strong electron acceptor, the tricyanovinyl group (TCV). Five new compounds were synthesized, crystallized and their single crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. The impact of bromine atom(s) on solid state packing as viewed through analysis of intermolecular interactions is presented. Comparative study using experimental, computed and published data of closely related structures shows intra-molecular interactions involving Br in the presence of TCV and EDOT. Distances shorter that the summation of the Van der Waals radii were observed which indicate the role of Br…NC, S…S and Br…Br interactions in addition to pi stack formation and planarity of these compounds due to the presence of strong electron acceptors. Possible implications of how these structural features may impact charge transport in oligothiophenes will be discussed.
Manufacturing of Fibres with New Reflective Properties and their Application in Textiles
Authors: Picot Olivier T. , Dai Mian , Peijs Ton , Bastiaansen Cees W.M. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTReflective fibres were obtained in a two step process. First a core polyamide 6 fibre was spun from the melt and successively stretched. Then a chiral nematic liquid crystal coating was applied onto the surface of this fibre and further cured under UV light. The liquid crystal alignment was controlled by the molecular orientation of the polymer fibre and the 10 μm thick mono-domain coating presented a periodic helical organisation with a pitch of 350 nm. The obtained fibre showed strong Bragg reflection giving an intense green colour changing upon viewing angle. The fibre has been integrated into a fabric suggesting its application for textile design, fashion, and apparel.
Phase Transition Behavior of Main Chain Nematic Liquid-Crystalline Polymers Based on 2-methyl-1,4-bis[4-(4-pentenyloxy)benzoyl]hydroquinone and 2-tert-butyl-1,4-bis[4-(4-pentenyloxy)benzoyl]hydroquinone
Authors: Melchert Christain , Behl M. , Lendlein A. 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTThe control of phase transition behavior in liquid crystalline polymers could enable potential application in the field of actuators and sensors by enabling a higher actuator performance of liquid crystalline elastomers (LCE). In this context the phase transition behavior of siloxane based liquid crystalline copolymers synthesized from 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane, 2-methyl-1,4-bis[4-(4-pentenyloxy)benzoyl]hydroquinone (M-MeHq), and 2-tert-butyl-1,4-bis[4-(4-pentenyloxy)benzoyl]hydroquinone (M-tBHq) was explored. The selected monomers provided different thermal stabilities of the nematic phase, while the non-flexible siloxane spacer suppressed a smectic phase. The mesogenic properties were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). With increasing fraction of M-MeHq the nematic phase of the copolymer was stabilized and a tailoring of relatively low TNI was achieved.