One-Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of Sn-Doped SbSe for Solar Hydrogen Production.

Antimony selenide (SbSe) has recently been intensively investigated and has achieved significant advancement in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this work, a facile one-step hydrothermal method for the preparation of Sn-doped SbSe photocathodes with improved PEC performance was investigated. We present an in-depth study of the performance enhancement in Sn-doped SbSe photocathodes using capacitance-voltage (CV), drive-level capacitance profiling (DLCP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques.

At least one in a dozen stars shows evidence of planetary ingestion.

Stellar chemical compositions can be altered by ingestion of planetary material and/or planet formation, which removes refractory material from the protostellar disk. These 'planet signatures' appear as correlations between elemental abundance differences and the dust condensation temperature. Detecting these planet signatures, however, is challenging owing to unknown occurrence rates, small amplitudes and heterogeneous star samples with large differences in stellar ages.

Development and Analysis of a Hydroxyapatite Supplemented Calcium Silicate Cement for Endodontic Treatment.

To develop an endodontic cement using bovine bone-derived hydroxyapatite (BHA), Portland cement (PC), and a radiopacifier. BHA was manufactured from waste bovine bone and milled to form a powder. The cements were developed by the addition of BHA (10%/20%/30%/40% wt), 35% wt, zirconium oxide (radiopacifier) to Portland cement (PC).

WITHDRAWN: Analysis of distribution characteristics of PM2.5 and health risk appraisal in northeast china through the geographically weighted regression model.

Ahead of Print article withdrawn by publisher.

Global Variations in Practices Concerning Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass-an Online Survey of 651 Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeons with Cumulative Experience of 158,335 Procedures.

Introduction: There is significant variation in practices concerning Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) among bariatric surgeons, but there is currently a lack of robust data on the nature and extent of these variations. The purpose of this study was to understand global variations in practices concerning RYGB.

Methods: A questionnaire-based survey on Survey Monkey® was created, and the link was shared freely on various social media platforms.

Molecular and Immunological Mechanisms Underlying the Various Pharmacological Properties of the Potent Bioflavonoid, Rutin.

The application of medicinal plants has captured the interest of researchers in recent times due to their potent therapeutic properties and a better safety profile. The prominent role of herbal products in treating and preventing multiple diseases dates back to ancient history and most of the modern drugs today originated from their significant sources owing to their ability to control multiple targets via different signalling pathways. Among them, flavonoids consist of a large group of polyphenols, which are well known for their various therapeutic benefits.

Relatives in silent kidney disease screening (RISKS) study: A Chinese cohort study.

Aim: Family members of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have higher risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Limited study has examined the risk of developing CKD in relatives of patients in earlier stages of CKD.

Methods: From January 2008 to June 2009, the Hong Kong Society of Nephrology studied first-degree relatives of stage 1-5 CKD patients from 11 local hospitals.

The Symptoms Prevalence, Medical Interventions, and Health Care Service Needs for Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease in a Renal Palliative Care Program.

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the symptoms prevalence and interventions initiated in the last 2 weeks of life, health care service utilization, and causes of death of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD under a renal palliative care (RPC) program. A total of 335 RPC patients were included, of which 226 patients died during the study period. The 5 most prevalent symptoms were dyspnea (63.

Sodium content as a predictor of the advanced evolution of globular cluster stars.

The asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase is the final stage of nuclear burning for low-mass stars. Although Milky Way globular clusters are now known to harbour (at least) two generations of stars, they still provide relatively homogeneous samples of stars that are used to constrain stellar evolution theory. It is predicted by stellar models that the majority of cluster stars with masses around the current turn-off mass (that is, the mass of the stars that are currently leaving the main sequence phase) will evolve through the AGB phase.

Effect of duration, participation rate, and supervision during community rehabilitation on functional outcomes in the first poststroke year in Singapore.

Objective: To examine the effect of duration, participation rate, and supervision during community rehabilitation on functional outcome during the first poststroke year.

Design: Prospective longitudinal study with interviews at admission, discharge, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year after discharge.

Setting: Two subacute inpatient rehabilitation units and the community after discharge in Singapore.

Intraosseous vascular access in adults using the EZ-IO in an emergency department.

Background: Intraosseous (IO) access is an alternative to conventional intravenous access.

Aims: We evaluate the use of the EZ-IO as an alternative vascular access for patients in the emergency department.

Methods: A non-randomized, prospective, observational study was performed in adults using the EZ-IO powered drill device.

Geographic-time distribution of ambulance calls in Singapore: utility of geographic information system in ambulance deployment (CARE 3).

Introduction: Pre-hospital ambulance calls are not random events, but occur in patterns and trends that are related to movement patterns of people, as well as the geographical epidemiology of the population. This study describes the geographic-time epidemiology of ambulance calls in a large urban city and conducts a time demand analysis. This will facilitate a Systems Status Plan for the deployment of ambulances based on the most cost effective deployment strategy.

Omission of the calibration bougie in laparoscopic repair of paraesophageal hernia.

Background: The use of an intraesophageal bougie has traditionally been an integral step in the repair of large hiatal hernia and fundoplication. Typically, the bougie is passed by the anesthesiologist or a member of the surgical team into the stomach to enable calibration of the hiatal repair and fundoplication. An inherent risk of esophagogastric perforation is associated with this maneuver.

Clinical evaluation of laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernias with TiMesh.

The use of mesh for laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernias may decrease recurrence rates in comparison with primary suture repair. The type of mesh material, as well as its size and shape, is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate a lightweight polypropylene mesh (TiMesh) repair of hiatal hernias, with particular reference to symptomatic relief, patient satisfaction and quality of life (QOL).

Evaluation of lightweight titanium-coated polypropylene mesh (TiMesh) for laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernias.

Background: The use of mesh for laparoscopic repair of large hiatal hernias may reduce recurrence rates in comparison with primary suture repair. However, there is a potential risk of mesh-related oesophageal complications due to prosthesis erosion. The aim of this study was to evaluate a lightweight polypropylene mesh (TiMesh) repair of hiatal hernias with particular reference to intraluminal erosion.

Good's syndrome in a patient with cytomegalovirus retinitis.

Thymoma-related adult-onset immunodeficiency or Good's syndrome is an uncommon condition. This case, of a 50-year-old woman who was human immunodeficiency virus-negative and developed herpes zoster and severe cytomegalovirus retinitis 6 months after removal of a thymoma, is the first to be reported in Hong Kong. Immunological investigations revealed no B cells, hypogammaglobulinaemia, a low CD4 count, and a low CD4/CD8 ratio.

Endovascular repair of mycotic aortic aneurysms.

The management of mycotic aneurysms is difficult, with high morbidity and mortality. Traditional open operative approaches include removal of infected material with either extra-anatomic reconstruction or in situ graft repair. Since the advent of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in the early 1990s, its use in the treatment of aneurysm disease has increased due to proven decrease in 30-day mortality.

Multidisciplinary treatment of colorectal cancer in New Zealand: survival rates from 1997-2002.

Introduction: The surgical and oncological treatment of colorectal cancer has undergone steady evolution over the last 20 years, however nationally derived survival figures have been disappointingly slow to improve. This study is an analysis of prospectively collected data (taken over a 6-year period) on the outcome of colorectal cancer management from a single university surgical unit in New Zealand.

Methods: A comprehensive dataset was prospectively collected on all patients seen with colorectal cancer by a single surgical team, and complete follow-up was obtained.

Do nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs affect the outcome of patients admitted to hospital with lower gastrointestinal bleeding?

Aim: To determine whether the outcome of patients admitted to hospital with lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGB) is affected by their use of aspirin (ASA) or non-aspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NANSAIDs).

Methods: A retrospective review of all patients admitted to Wellington Hospital over a four-and-a-half-year period from January 1998 with a coded discharge diagnosis that included LGB. Data were collected on requirement for blood transfusion (BT), number of units transfused, drug use, requirement for surgery, and in-hospital mortality.