| 1. |
- Acosta, Stefan, et al.
(author)
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Multicentre prospective study of fascial closure rate after open abdomen with vacuum and mesh-mediated fascial traction
- 2011
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In: British Journal of Surgery. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0007-1323 .- 1365-2168. ; 98:5, s. 735-743
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Damage control surgery and temporary open abdomen (OA) have been adopted widely, in both trauma and non-trauma situations. Several techniques for temporary abdominal closure have been developed. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the fascial closure rate in patients after vacuum-assisted wound closure and mesh-mediated fascial traction (VAWCM) for long-term OA treatment, and to describe complications. Methods: This prospective study included all patients who received VAWCM treatment between 2006 and 2009 at four hospitals. Patients with anticipated OA treatment for fewer than 5 days and those with non-midline incisions were excluded. Results: Among 151 patients treated with an OA, 111 received VAWCM treatment. Median age was 68 years. Median OA treatment time was 14 days. Main disease aetiologies were vascular (45 patients), visceral surgical disease (57) and trauma (9). The fascial closure rate was 76.6 per cent in intention-to-treat analysis and 89 per cent in per-protocol analysis. Eight patients developed an intestinal fistula, of whom seven had intestinal ischaemia. Intestinal fistula was an independent factor associated with failure of fascial closure (odds ratio (OR) 8.55, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.47 to 49.72; P = 0.017). The in-hospital mortality rate was 29.7 per cent. Age (OR 1.21, 1.02 to 1.43; P = 0.027) and failure of fascial closure (OR 44.50, 1.13 to 1748.52; P = 0.043) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: The VAWCM method provided a high fascial closure rate after long-term treatment of OA. Technique-related complications were few. No patient was left with a large planned ventral hernia.
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| 2. |
- Bhaskar, U., et al.
(author)
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On-chip tensile testing of the mechanical and electro-mechanical properties of nano-scale silicon free-standing beams
- 2011
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In: Advanced Materials Research. - 1662-8985 .- 1022-6680. ; 276, s. 117-126
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A simple and versatile on-chip tensile testing method is proposed for the statistical evaluation of size effects on the mechanical strength of silicon thin films along with the simultaneous study of (from low to ultra) strain effects on the carrier transport. Mechanical results are presented on the fracture strength of micro-nano scale silicon beams, followed with a discussion on interface states and problems facing reliable nano-electronic and nano-electromechanical characterizations
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| 3. |
- Bjarnason, Thordur, et al.
(author)
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Pressure at the Bowel Surface during Topical Negative Pressure Therapy of the Open Abdomen: An Experimental Study in a Porcine Model.
- 2011
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In: World Journal of Surgery. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1432-2323 .- 0364-2313. ; 35, s. 917-923
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Topical negative pressure (TNP) therapy is increasingly used in open abdomen management. It is not known to what extent this pressure propagates through the dressing to the bowel surface, potentially increasing the risk of bowel fistula formation. The present study in a porcine model was designed to evaluate pressure propagation. METHODS: A commercially available TNP therapy system (ABThera/VAC) was applied in six pigs after laparotomy. Pressure sensors were placed in predetermined positions in the dressing and in the abdominal cavity and the pressure was registered at TNP settings of -50, -75, -100, -125, and -150 mmHg. Next, after infusing 200 ml of saline into the abdomen through a catheter, the amount of fluid drained through the system during 10 min of TNP therapy was registered. Finally, pressure was measured above and below eight layers of paraffin gauzes during TNP therapy. RESULTS: Observed pressure within the outer two foams and the foam of the visceral protective layer correlated with preset TNP. The median pressure at the bowel surface was between -2 and -10 mmHg, regardless of preset TNP. Median fluid drainage was 95% of the infused fluid at -75 mmHg and 124% at -150 mmHg. Paraffin gauzes had a limited isolating effect, reducing the pressure by 13% in median. CONCLUSIONS: Negative pressure reaching the bowel surface during TNP therapy with the ABThera system is limited for all TNP levels. Reduced therapy pressure does not lead to reduced pressure at the bowel surface. The system drains the abdominal cavity completely of fluid. Paraffin gauzes are of limited value as a means of pressure isolation.
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| 4. |
- Björck, Martin, et al.
(author)
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Intra-abdominal Hypertension and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome in Non trauma Surgical Patients
- 2011
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In: The American surgeon. - 0003-1348 .- 1555-9823. ; 77:7, s. S62-S66
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) are commonly encountered in nontrauma surgical patients. Depending on the etiology of the patient's surgical illness (ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute pancreatitis, burns, etc.), both the incidence and mortality of IAH/ACS may be quite high. Recent advances in both the diagnosis and resuscitation of these surgical patients have resulted in significantly improved survival over that seen in years past. Intra-abdominal pressure measurements should be performed in any surgical patient who demonstrates risk factors for IAH/ACS.
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| 5. |
- Hovstadius, Bo, 1955-, et al.
(author)
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Acquisition cost of dispensed drugs in individuals with multiple medications A register-based study in Sweden
- 2011
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In: Health Policy. - : Elsevier BV. - 1872-6054 .- 0168-8510. ; 101:2, s. 153-161
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To analyse the acquisition cost of dispensed prescription drugs for individuals with multiple medications in a national population. Methods: We collected and analysed individual based data regarding the acquisition cost of dispensed prescription drugs for all individuals with five or more dispensed drugs (DP >= 5) in Sweden 2006 (2.2 million). Results: Individuals with DP >= 5 (24.5% of the population) accounted for 78.8% of the total acquisition cost, and individuals with DP >= 10(8.6% of the population) and DP >= 15(3.0% of the population) accounted for 46.3% and 23.2%, respectively. The average acquisition cost per defined daily doses (DDD) generally decreased with increasing age. The highest average cost per ODD was observed for individuals with DP >= 10. The acquisition cost for women with DP >= 5 represented 56.0% of the total acquisition cost. Men with DP >= 5 represented 44.0% of the total acquisition cost. Conclusions: In an entire national population, individuals with multiple medication accounted for four fifths of the total acquisition cost of dispensed drugs. Actions to reduce the number of prescription drugs for the group of patients with a number of different drugs may also result in a substantial reduction of the total acquisition cost. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Olsson, Ulf, 1947-, et al.
(author)
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'Youth' Making Us Fit : On Europe as operator of political technologies
- 2011
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In: European Educational Research Journal. - Oxford : Symposium Journals Ltd. - 1474-9041. ; 10:1, s. 1-10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article problematitizes the construction of youth as a 'driving force' in the contemporary configuration of the European Union (EU) as an educational and political space. The study draws emperical nourishmet out of documents that are central to the ongoing formation of the Union, be it White Papers, scripts or memos concerning political arenas such as youth and education policies and the Bologna process. Theoretically the article draws on insights from post-Foucauldian traditions with a focus on mentalities, subject constructions, technologies and practices operation within the ongoing governmentalization of Europe. Central questions are 'who' and 'what' the problematization of youth as political technology is about. Drawing on homologies in the coding of citizen, independent of age, the authors claim that problematization of youth is directed to all of us. We are all, in the name of youth, expected to constantly 'adapt' ourselves in compliance with the aim of the Lisbon process. Furthermore, as the Union ifself is coded in a similar way, we may even claim that the EU, literally speaking, appears as a youth project in itself. Thus, the notion that youth can be seen as political rationality that becomes a poweful driving force in the ongoing European project.
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| 7. |
- Passi, V., et al.
(author)
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Note: Fast and reliable fracture strain extraction technique applied to silicon at nanometer scale
- 2011
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In: Review of Scientific Instruments. - : AIP Publishing. - 1089-7623 .- 0034-6748. ; 82:11, s. art. no 116106-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Simple fabrication process and extraction procedure to determine the fracture strain of monocrystalline silicon are demonstrated. Nanowires/nanoribbons in silicon are fabricated and subjected to uniaxial tensile stress along the complete length of the beams. Large strains up to 5% are measured for nanowires presenting a cross section of 50 nm × 50 nm and a length of 2.5 μm. An increase in fracture strain for silicon nanowires (NWs) with the downscaling of their volume is observed, highlighting the reduction of the defects probability as volume is decreased.
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| 8. |
- Velessiotis, D., et al.
(author)
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Molecular junctions made of tungsten-polyoxometalate self-assembled monolayers: Towards polyoxometalate-based molecular electronics devices
- 2011
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In: Microelectronic Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-9317. ; 88:8, s. 2775-2777
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this work, the electrical conduction of planar Au junctions electrically bridged by a polyoxometalate-based self-assembled monolayer, aimed to be used in hybrid silicon/molecular memory devices, is discussed. Tunnelling assisted by the presence of polyoxometalate anions is recognised as the main conduction mechanism for these devices. Fluctuations and hysteresis that are profoundly observed in the current-voltage characteristics for the smallest junctions suggest that the anions number is the more crucial factor in the devices behaviour. Quantitative analysis of the obtained characteristics based on Simmons's model reveals an increase in the tunnelling barrier height as the electrode distance increases from 20 to 200 nm. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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