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Polycrystalline Cu2O thin films were prepared on c-sapphire substrates by reactive radio-frequency sputtering at various temperatures between 500 and 925K employing a metallic target and utilizing an argon/hydrogen/oxygen gas mixture. It is demonstrated that the use of hydrogen in the sputter deposition process beneficially affects the transport properties of the Cu2O films obtained. Correlating the amount of hydrogen incorporated into the thin films, the film morphology and the transport and luminescence properties demonstrate that in this approach hydrogen is predominantly accumulated at the grain boundaries of the polycrystalline films, leading to a lower film resistivity due to the reduction of grain boundary scattering. It is demonstrated that a suitable employment of hydrogen in the growth process of Cu2O material for solar cell applications improves the material properties significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scheduled surgery can often be a stressful time for patients. While anesthesia providers give a full explanation of care to the patient, research suggests that anxiety and time constraints imposed by the system may hinder the amount and quality of information provided. Use of technology to augment dissemination of information may have an impact. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a website on: (1) preoperative patient education, (2) patient anxiety, and (3) patient satisfaction with anesthesia care. The week prior to surgery, 64 ASA class I and II subjects at a 350-bed urban university affiliated hospital completed a demographic questionnaire, State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and modified Standard Anesthesia Learning Test (mSALT), and the experimental group was given website information. On the day of surgery, all subjects completed the STAI and mSALT. Before discharge, subjects rated satisfaction. The experimental group had a significant increase in posttest mSALT scores (P = .004). Neither the experimental nor the control group had a significant change in posttest state anxiety (P = .279 and .762) or trait anxiety (P = .823 and.570). The experimental group differed significantly from the control group in satisfaction with teaching (P = .019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The band alignment of p-Cu2O/n-AlxGa1–xN heterojunction with x up to 0.15 was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The conduction band offset between binary Cu2O and ternary AlxGa1–xN is found to decrease with increasing x. The data suggest that a flatband situation in the conduction band of p-Cu2O/n-AlxGa1–xN heterojunctions can be achieved for x about 0.4, which is an Al-content where n-type doping is still feasible. Thus, n-AlxGa1–xN with x between 0.4 and 0.6 may be a suitable window material for heterojunction solar cells with a p-Cu2O absorber layer. The current-voltage characteristics of the p-Cu2O/n-AlxGa1–xN heterojunctions under illumination confirm the anticipated improvement of the photovoltaic properties with increasing x. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of lung cancer in a high-risk asbestos-exposed cohort using low-dose MDCT. Of a population of 5,389 former power-plant workers, 316 were characterized as individuals at highest risk for lung cancer according to a lung-cancer risk model including age, asbestos exposure and smoking habits. Of these 316, 187 (mean age: 66.6 years) individuals were included in a prospective trial. Mean asbestos exposure time was 29.65 years and 89% were smokers. Screening was performed on a 16-slice MDCT (Siemens) with low-dose technique (10/20 mAs(eff.); 1 mm/0.5 mm increment). In addition to soft copy PACS reading analysis on a workstation with a dedicated lung analysis software (LungCARE; Siemens) was performed. One strongly suspicious mass and eight cases of histologically proven lung cancer were found plus 491 additional pulmonary nodules (average volume: 40.72 ml, average diameter 4.62 mm). Asbestos-related changes (pleural plaques, fibrosis) were visible in 80 individuals. Lung cancer screening in this high-risk cohort showed a prevalence of lung cancer of 4.28% (8/187) at baseline screening with an additional large number of indeterminate pulmonary nodules. Low-dose MDCT proved to be feasible in this highly selected population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Worldwide demand has increased for the development of a computed tomography (CT) classification system that supplements the ILO classification of radiographs for pneumoconioses. The authors aimed to show preliminary reliability test results for selected referent films for the CT classification system developed through an international effort by researchers from seven countries. Methods: Reading trials by eight physicians who have considerable experience in pneumoconioses using a total of 114 lung zones consisting of 6 lung zones of 19 CT films of dust-exposed workers were performed to assess reliability of the classification system by weighted κ. The results were also utilized for selecting reference films. Results: A good agreement was observed for both first and second reading trials for rounded opacities (weighted κ=0.76, 0.74, first and second trial results, respectively), irregular opacities (0.60, 0.48), emphysema (0.56, 0.70) and honeycombing (0.72, 0.79). Ground glass opacities, on the other hand, showed moderate agreement (0.43, 0.38). Intra-reader agreements among eight readers were shown in the same table as the mean and standard deviation of weighted κ statistics. The inter-reader agreement for pleural thickening was not as good as for parenchymal lesions. Discussion: The CT classification development may pioneer noble and sensitive medical screening for dust-exposed workers in selected settings. This system may be applied to radiographic borderline cases of profusion 0/1 and 1/0 by the ILO classification, in a setting that assures the occupational safety and health of workers exposed to some newly developed chemical compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To implement a novel voxel-based technique to identify statistically significant local cartilage deformation and analyze in-vivo topographic knee cartilage deformation patterns using a voxel-based thickness map approach for high-flexion postures. Methods: Sagittal 3T 3D-T1w-FLASH-WE-sequences of 10 healthy knees were acquired before and immediately after loading (kneeling/squatting/heel sitting/knee bends). After cartilage segmentation, 3D-reconstruction and 3D-registration, colour-coded deformation maps were generated by voxel-based subtraction of loaded from unloaded datasets to visualize cartilage thickness changes in all knee compartments. Results: Compression areas were found bifocal at the peripheral medial/caudolateral patella, both posterior femoral condyles and both anterior/central tibiae. Local cartilage thickening were found adjacent to the compression areas. Significant local strain ranged from +13 to -15 %. Changes were most pronounced after squatting, least after knee bends. Shape and location of deformation areas varied slightly with the loading paradigm, but followed a similar pattern consistent between different individuals. Conclusions: Voxel-based deformation maps identify individual in-vivo load-specific and posture-associated strain distribution in the articular cartilage. The data facilitate understanding individual knee loading properties and contribute to improve biomechanical 3 models. They lay a base to investigate the relationship between cartilage degeneration patterns in common osteoarthritis and areas at risk of cartilage wear due to mechanical loading in work-related activities. Key points: • 3D MRI helps differentiate true knee-cartilage deformation from random measurement error • 3D MRI maps depict in vivo topographic distribution of cartilage deformation after loading • 3D MRI maps depict in vivo intensity of cartilage deformation after loading • Locating cartilage contact areas might aid differentiating common and work-related osteoarthritis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]