“
“Background A major strategic hospital goal

is the prevention of catheter associated bloodstream infections (CABSI). In 2009, at our institution, the CABSI rate for patients who traveled out of the ICU to the operating room and other procedural areas under the care of an anesthesiologist was increased compared to patients who remained on the unit. Aims Our objective was to develop countermeasures to improve intraoperative cleanliness by anesthesia providers, minimize contamination of intravenous access points, and ultimately reduce CABSIs. Materials & Methods A multidisciplinary team identified barriers to following best practices for reducing contamination of intravenous line entry-ports. Using Continuous Performance Improvement (CPI) or Lean techniques,

staff directly impacted by the changes developed countermeasures to improve anesthesia AZD5363 molecular weight practice. Compliance with the new best practices improved with coaching and feedback. Results Postimplementation, CABSI rates for patients traveling off the ICU with anesthesiology providers decreased from 14.1 per thousand trips off the ICU preintervention in 2009 to 9.7 per 1000 trips in 2010 and to 0 per 1000 trips in 2011 postintervention. Hospital-wide CABSI rates decreased from 3.5 per 1000 central line days preintervention to 2.2 per 1000 central line days after. Conclusion Practice modification Selleckchem Rabusertib by anesthesiology providers in the operating room can decrease workspace contamination and is associated with decreased CABSI rates.”
“Electrically NVP-HSP990 purchase stressed Bi-Sb-Te thin films have demonstrated markedly enhanced Hall mobility and moderately reduced carrier concentration. To lower electrical resistivity further, a Sb-inserted Bi-Sb-Te multilayer structure was prepared through consecutively sputtering Bi-Sb-Te and Sb layers followed by electric

current stressing. The electrically stressed Sb/Bi-Sb-Te film demonstrates high carrier concentration and enhanced Hall mobility. We propose that the additional Sb supply suppresses electromigration-induced Sb depletion in crystal lattices, thus maintains high carrier concentration of the Bi-Sb-Te film. The presented approach provides a simple means to optimize thermoelectric properties of Bi-Sb-Te films.”
“Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Greenland with 5-10% of the population being HBsAg-positive (chronic carriers). Surprisingly, despite of the high prevalence of HBV infection, acute and chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma appear much less frequently than expected. The reasons for the low frequencies are unknown, but as a consequence implementation of a childhood HBV vaccination programme, though debated for years, has never been instituted. We describe an outbreak of hepatitis D (HDV) infection among children in a hepatitis B hyper-endemic settlement of 133 inhabitants on the west coast of Greenland.