bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acute Care of At-Risk Newborns (ACoRN): quantitative and qualitative educational evaluation of the program in a region of China
Authors: Singhal Nalini , Lockyer Jocelyn , Fidler Herta , Aziz Khalid , McMillan Douglas , Qiu Xiangming , Ma Xiaolu , Du Lizhong , Lee Shoo K 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
The Acute Care of at-Risk Newborns (ACoRN) program was developed in Canada for trained health care providers for the identification and management of newborns who are at-risk and/or become unwell in the first few hours or days after birth. The ACoRN process follows an 8-step framework that enables the evaluation and management of babies irrespective of the experience or expertise of the caregiving individual or team. This study assesses the applicability of the program to Chinese pediatric practitioners.

Methods
Course content and educational materials were translated from English into Chinese by bilingual neonatal practitioners. Confidence and knowledge questionnaires were developed and reviewed for face and content validity by a team of ACoRN instructors. Bilingual Chinese instructors were trained at the tertiary perinatal centre in Hangzhou Zhejiang to deliver the course at 15 level II county hospitals. Participants completed pre- and post-course confidence and knowledge questionnaires and provided feedback through post-course focus groups.

Results
216 physicians and nurses were trained. Confidence and knowledge relating to neonatal stabilization improved significantly following the courses. Participants rated course utility and function between 4.2 and 4.6/5 on all items. Pre/post measures of confidence were significantly correlated with post course knowledge. Focus group data supported the perceived value of the program and recommended course adjustments to include pre-course reading, and increased content related to simulation, communication skills, and management of respiratory illness and jaundice.

Conclusions
ACoRN, a Canadian educational program, appears to be well received by Chinese health care providers and results in improved knowledge and confidence. International program adaptation for use by health care professionals requires structured and systematic evaluation to ensure that the program meets the needs of learners, reflects their learning styles, and can be applied in their setting.
Efficiency improvement of silicon solar cells enabled by ZnO nanowhisker array coating
Authors: Yu Xuegong , Wang Dong , Lei Dong , Li Genhu , Yang Deren 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
An efficient antireflection coating is critical for the improvement of silicon solar cell performance via increased light coupling. Here, we have grown well-aligned ZnO nanowhisker (NW) arrays on Czochralski silicon solar cells by a seeding-growth two-step process. It is found that the ZnO NWs have a great effect on the macroscopic antireflection effect and, therefore, improves the solar cell performance. The ZnO NW array-coated solar cells display a broadband reflection suppression from 500 to 1,100 nm, and the minimum reflectance smaller than 3% can easily be achieved. By optimizing the time of ZnO NW growth, it has been confirmed that an increase of 3% relatively in the solar cell efficiency can be obtained. These results are quite interesting for the application of ZnO nanostructure in the fabrication of high-efficiency silicon solar cells.
A BioBrick compatible strategy for genetic modification of plants
Authors: Boyle Patrick M , Burrill Devin R , Inniss Mara C , Agapakis Christina M , Deardon Aaron , DeWerd Jonathan G , Gedeon Michael A , Quinn Jacqueline Y , Paull Morgan L , Raman Anugraha M , Theilmann Mark R , Wang Lu , Winn Julia C , Medvedik Oliver , Schellenberg Kurt , Haynes Karmella A , Viel Alain , Brenner Tamara J , Church George M , Shah Jagesh V , Silver Pamela A 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
Plant biotechnology can be leveraged to produce food, fuel, medicine, and materials. Standardized methods advocated by the synthetic biology community can accelerate the plant design cycle, ultimately making plant engineering more widely accessible to bioengineers who can contribute diverse creative input to the design process.

Results
This paper presents work done largely by undergraduate students participating in the 2010 International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition. Described here is a framework for engineering the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana with standardized, BioBrick compatible vectors and parts available through the Registry of Standard Biological Parts (http://www.partsregistry.org). This system was used to engineer a proof-of-concept plant that exogenously expresses the taste-inverting protein miraculin.

Conclusions
Our work is intended to encourage future iGEM teams and other synthetic biologists to use plants as a genetic chassis. Our workflow simplifies the use of standardized parts in plant systems, allowing the construction and expression of heterologous genes in plants within the timeframe allotted for typical iGEM projects.
URPD: a specific product primer design tool
Authors: Chuang Li-Yeh , Cheng Yu-Huei , Yang Cheng-Hong 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) plays an important role in molecular biology. Primer design fundamentally determines its results. Here, we present a currently available software that is not located in analyzing large sequence but used for a rather straight-forward way of visualizing the primer design process for infrequent users.

Findings
URPD (yoUR Primer Design), a web-based specific product primer design tool, combines the NCBI Reference Sequences (RefSeq), UCSC In-Silico PCR, memetic algorithm (MA) and genetic algorithm (GA) primer design methods to obtain specific primer sets. A friendly user interface is accomplished by built-in parameter settings. The incorporated smooth pipeline operations effectively guide both occasional and advanced users. URPD contains an automated process, which produces feasible primer pairs that satisfy the specific needs of the experimental design with practical PCR amplifications. Visual virtual gel electrophoresis and in silico PCR provide a simulated PCR environment. The comparison of Practical gel electrophoresis comparison to virtual gel electrophoresis facilitates and verifies the PCR experiment. Wet-laboratory validation proved that the system provides feasible primers.

Conclusions
URPD is a user-friendly tool that provides specific primer design results. The pipeline design path makes it easy to operate for beginners. URPD also provides a high throughput primer design function. Moreover, the advanced parameter settings assist sophisticated researchers in performing experiential PCR. Several novel functions, such as a nucleotide accession number template sequence input, local and global specificity estimation, primer pair redesign, user-interactive sequence scale selection, and virtual and practical PCR gel electrophoresis discrepancies have been developed and integrated into URPD. The URPD program is implemented in JAVA and freely available at http://bio.kuas.edu.tw/urpd/.
Regional citrate anticoagulation in cardiac surgery patients at high risk of bleeding: a continuous veno-venous hemofiltration protocol with a low concentration citrate solution
Authors: Morabito Santo , Pistolesi Valentina , Tritapepe Luigi , Zeppilli Laura , Polistena Francesca , Strampelli Emanuela , Pierucci Alessandro 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Introduction
Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) is a valid option in patients at high risk of bleeding who are undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The aim of this study was to evaluate, in critically ill patients with severe acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery, the efficacy and safety of RCA-continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) using a low concentration citrate solution.

Methods
In high bleeding-risk cardiac surgery patients, we adopted, as an alternative to heparin or no anticoagulation, RCA-CVVH using a 12 mmol/l citrate solution. For RCA-CVVH settings, we developed a mathematical model to roughly estimate citrate load and calcium loss. In order to minimize calcium chloride supplementation, a calcium-containing solution was used as post-dilution replacement fluid.
Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t-test or analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post-hoc tests, Wilcoxon or Kruskal-Wallis tests for non-parametric analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with Log Rank test.

Results
Thirty-three patients (age 70.8 ± 9.5, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score 13.9 ± 2.5) were switched to RCA-CVVH from no anticoagulation CRRT. Among them, 16 patients had been previously switched from heparin to no anticoagulation because of bleeding or heparin-related complications. RCA-CVVH filter life (49.8 ± 35.4 hours, median 41, 152 circuits) was significantly longer (P < 0.0001) when compared with heparin (30.6 ± 24.3 hours, median 22, 73 circuits) or no anticoagulation (25.7 ± 21.2 hours, median 20, 77 circuits). Target circuit and systemic Ca++ were easily maintained (0.37 ± 0.09 and 1.18 ± 0.13 mmol/l), while the persistence of a mild metabolic acidosis required bicarbonate supplementation (5.8 ± 5.9 mmol/hours) in 27 patients. The probability of circuit running at 24, 48, 72 hours was higher during RCA-CVVH (P < 0.0001), with a lower discrepancy between delivered and prescribed CRRT dose (P < 0.0001). RCA was associated with a lower transfusion rate (P < 0.02). Platelet count (P = 0.012) and antithrombin III activity (P = 0.004) increased throughout RCA-CVVH, reducing the need for supplementation.

Conclusions
RCA safely prolonged filter life while decreasing CRRT downtime, transfusion rates and supplementation needs for antithrombin III and platelets. In cardiac surgery patients with severe multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, the adoption of a 12 mmol/l citrate solution may provide a suboptimal buffers supply, easily overwhelmed by bicarbonate supplementation.
Increasing Lung Cancer Death Rates Among Young Women in Southern and Midwestern States
Authors: Jemal Ahmedin , Ma Jiemin , Rosenberg Philip S. , Siegel Rebecca , Anderson William F. 
Published: June 2012

Purpose Previous studies reported that declines in age-specific lung cancer death rates among women in the United States abruptly slowed in women younger than age 50 years (ie, women born after the 1950s). However, in view of substantial geographic differences in antitobacco measures and sociodemographic factors that affect smoking prevalence, it is unknown whether this change in the trend was similar across all states. Methods We examined female age-specific lung cancer death rates (1973 through 2007) by year of death and birth in each state by using age-period-cohort models. Cohort relative risks adjusted for age and period effects were used to compare the lung cancer death rate for a given birth cohort to a referent birth cohort (ie, the 1933 cohort herein). Results Age-specific lung cancer death rates declined continuously in white women in California, but the rates declined less quickly or even increased in the remaining states among women younger than age 50 years and women born after the 1950s, especially in several southern and midwestern states. For example, in some southern states (eg, Alabama), lung cancer death rates among women born in the 1960s were approximately double those of women born in the 1930s. Conclusion The unfavorable lung cancer trend in white women born after circa 1950 in southern and midwestern states underscores the need for additional interventions to promote smoking cessation in these high-risk populations, which could lead to more favorable future mortality trends for lung cancer and other smoking-related diseases.
Nickel/Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Carbocyanation of Unsaturated Compounds
Authors: Nakao Yoshiaki 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Addition reactions of the organic and cyano groups of nitriles through cleavage of the C–CN bonds, namely carbocyanation, have been developed using nickel/Lewis acid (LA) cooperative catalysis. Originally, the reaction was performed with a nickel catalyst alone and was limited to the use of aryl and allyl cyanides as the nitrile substrates. By employing LA cocatalysts, the rate of the arylcyanation was accelerated significantly and the scope of nitriles used in the reaction across alkynes was expanded to include alkenyl, alkynyl, and alkyl cyanides. The high chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivities of the alkyne–carbocyanation reactions were highlighted by the syntheses of biologically active compounds including the synthetic precursor of P-3622 and plaunotol, which possess defined tri- or tetrasubstituted ethene structures. Intramolecular arylcyanation of alkenes was also achieved by cooperative catalysis. Mechanistic studies on this particular transformation allowed us to identify several reaction intermediates, which revealed the modes of the cooperative catalysis derived from nickel- and aluminum-based LA. Intramolecular arylcyanation was achieved in an enantioselective manner using optically active bidentate phosphorus ligands, affording a protocol to introduce both a quaternary stereocenter and a cyano functionality without by-product generation.
18F-FDG PET/CT and PET for evaluation of pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: a meta-analysis
Authors: Cheng Xu , Li Yongjun , Liu Biao , Xu Zhaoqiang , Bao Lihua , Wang Jie 
Published: June 2012

Background Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly the treatment for patients with inoperable breast cancer. Considering the side-effects of chemotherapy, there is a need for early evaluating response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Purpose To determinate the diagnostic performance of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose position emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) and FDG PET for evaluating response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. Material and Methods “PubMed” (MEDLINE included) database, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for relevant articles. We assessed the methodological quality of included study with Quality Assessment of Diagnosis Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) score tool, and used “Meta-DiSc” statistic software to obtain pooled estimates of sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and summary receiver-operating characteristic (SROC) curve. Results Seventeen studies (a total of 781 subjects) met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sensitivity was 0.840 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.796–0.878). The pooled specificity was 0.713 (95% CI 0.667–0.756). For FDG PET/CT (10 studies included), the pooled sensitivity was 0.847 (95% CI 0.793–0.892), the pooled specificity was 0.661 (95% CI 0.598–0.720). The pooled likelihood ratio (LR+), negative likelihood ratio (LR–), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were 2.835 (95% CI 1.640–4.900), 0.221 (95% CI 0.160–0.305), and 17.628 (95% CI 7.431–41.818). The area under the SROC curve (AUC) was 0.8934. For FDG PET (7 studies included), the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.826 (95% CI 0.741–0.892) and 0.789 (95% CI 0.719–0.849). The pooled LR + , LR–, and DOR were 3.601 (95% CI 2.601–4.986), 0.242 (95% CI 0.157–0.374), and 13.641 (95% CI 7.433–25.030). The AUC was 0.8764. Conclusion Our results indicate that FDG PET/CT and PET have reasonable sensitivity in evaluating response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer; however, the specificity is relative low. The combination of other imaging methods with FDG PET/CT or PET is recommended.
Surgical management of pleural empyema in the very elderly
Authors: Schweigert M , Solymosi N , Dubecz A , Beron M , Thumfart L , Oefner-Velano D , Stein HJ 
Published: June 2012

INTRODUCTION Parapneumonic pleural empyema is a critical illness. Age is an acknowledged risk factor for both pneumonia and pleural empyema. Furthermore, elderly patients often have severe co-morbidity. In the case of pleural empyema, their clinical condition is likely to deteriorate fast, resulting in life threatening septic disease. To prevent this disastrous situation we adapted early surgical debridement as the primary treatment option even in very elderly patients. This study shows the outcome of surgically managed patients with pleural empyema who are 80 years or older. METHODS The outcomes of 222 consecutive patients who received surgical therapy for parapneumonic pleural empyema at a German tertiary referral hospital between 2006 and 2010 were reviewed in a retrospective case study. Patients older than 80 years were identified. RESULTS There were 159 male and 63 female patients. The mean age was 60.5 years and the overall in-hospital mortality rate was 7%. Of the 222 patients, 37 were 80 years or older (range: 80–95 years). The frequencies of predominantly cardiac co-morbidity and high ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) grades were significantly higher for very elderly patients (p<0.001). A minimally invasive approach was feasible in 34 cases (92%). Of the 37 patients aged over 80, 36 recovered while one died from severe sepsis (in-hospital mortality 3%). There was no significant difference in mortality between the very elderly and the younger sufferers (p=0.476). CONCLUSIONS Early surgical treatment of parapneumonic pleural empyema shows excellent results even in very elderly patients. Despite considerable co-morbidity and often delayed diagnosis, minimally invasive surgery was feasible in 34 patients (92%). The in-hospital mortality of very elderly patients was low. It can therefore be concluded that advanced age is no contraindication for early surgical therapy.
Adverse Drug Reactions in Elderly Hospitalized Patients: A 12-Year Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sikdar Khokan C , Dowden Jeffrey , Alaghehbandan Reza , MacDonald Don , Wang Peizhong Peter , Gadag Veeresh 
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND: Although research has identified some risk factors for first-time adverse drug reactions (ADRs), little is known about the risks associated with the number of ADRs. Modeling ADR counts is relatively complex because of the rarity of the events, requiring careful consideration of appropriate models that best present the observed data. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of ADRs among elderly hospitalized patients, assess patient-related risk factors for the number of ADRs, and review drug classes commonly responsible for ADRs. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used a population-based large administrative database on hospital separations from all acute care hospitals in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Patients aged 65 years or older with at least 1 hospital admission from April 1, 1995, to March 31, 2007, were included. Comorbidities, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and sociodemographic factors were assessed as predictors of ADR counts. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression model was used for analysis. RESULTS: The study cohort contained 64,446 patients. The incidence of ADRs was 15.2 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 14.8 to 15.7). Of those having an ADR, 15.4% had recurrent ADRs. The most common drug category implicated in ADRs was cardiovascular agents (17.7%). A dose-response relationship was found between CCI and ADR counts (rate ratio [RR] 1.67, 95% CI 1.41 to 1.98 for CCI 2-3; RR 2.38, 95% CI 1.98 to 2.87 for CCI 4-5; and RR 3.83, 95% CI 3.21-4.57 for CCI ≥6). Comorbid conditions including congestive heart failure (RR 1.58, 95% CI 1.33 to 1.89), diabetes (RR 2.42, 95% CI 1.64 to 3.56), and cancer (RR 3.12, 95% CI 2.58 to 3.76) were strong predictors. Rural areas (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.46) were associated with increased risk for ADRs, whereas age and sex had no effect. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidity from chronic diseases and severity of illness, rather than individual characteristics (advancing age and sex), increased the likelihood of ADRs. Changes in the delivery of care focusing on the monitoring of prescribed drugs in elderly patients with comorbidities could mitigate ADRs.
Planning a Pharmacy-Led Medical Mission Trip, Part 3: Development and Implementation of an Elective Medical Missions Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) Rotation
Authors: Brown Dana A , Ferrill Mary J 
Published: June 2012

This article, focusing on developing an elective advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) rotation for international and domestic medical missions, including provision of products, is the third in a 4-part series on pharmacist-led medical mission trips. Part 4, “An Exploratory Study of Student Experiences,” is an evaluation of data collected from both APPE and non-APPE student participants on Gregory School of Pharmacy mission trips during the summer of 2011. Specifically, it examines the issue of professionalism and the personal impact that mission trips may have on pharmacy students. With an increasing number of new pharmacy schools/colleges and expansion of existing ones, pharmacy schools/colleges are often in need of elective rotation experiences as part of the final year advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) program. Offering a medical missions elective APPE in either a domestic or international setting is a unique opportunity to expose pharmacy students to direct patient care. APPE students can be involved in triaging patients, compounding and dispensing medications, and providing patient education. As part of this APPE, pharmacy students are expected to complete projects such as formulary development, case presentations, book club discussions, journal reflections, manuscript preparations, and trip logistics planning. An elective APPE focused on medical missions facilitates the learning process and promotes the emergence of team leaders and leadership skills in general.
Do Racial and Ethnic Differences in Contraceptive Attitudes and Knowledge Explain Disparities In Method Use?
Authors: Rocca Corinne H. , Harper Cynthia C. 
Published: June 2012

CONTEXTSustained efforts have not attenuated racial and ethnic disparities in unintended pregnancy and effective contraceptive use in the United States. The roles of attitudes toward contraception, pregnancy and fertility remain relatively unexplored.METHODSKnowledge of contraceptive methods and attitudes about contraception, pregnancy, childbearing and fertility were assessed among 602 unmarried women aged 18–29 at risk for unintended pregnancy who participated in the 2009 National Survey of Reproductive and Contraceptive Knowledge. The contribution of attitudes to racial and ethnic disparities in effective method use was assessed via mediation analysis, using a series of regression models.RESULTSBlacks and Latinas were more likely than whites to believe that the government encourages contraceptive use to limit minority populations (odds ratio, 2.5 for each). Compared with white women, Latinas held more favorable attitudes toward pregnancy (2.5) and childbearing (coefficient, 0.3) and were more fatalistic about the timing of pregnancy (odds ratio, 2.3); blacks were more fatalistic about life in general (2.0). Only one attitude, skepticism that the government ensures contraceptive safety, was associated with contraceptive use (0.7), but this belief did not differ by race or ethnicity. Although blacks and Latinas used less effective methods than whites (0.3 and 0.4, respectively), attitudes did not explain disparities. Lower contraceptive knowledge partially explained Latinas’ use of less effective methods.CONCLUSIONSProviding basic information about effective methods might help to decrease ethnic disparities in use. Research should examine other variables that might account for these disparities, including health system characteristics and provider behavior.