Silicon clusters produced by femtosecond laser ablation: Non-thermal emission and gas-phase condensation

Neutral silicon clusters Si_n (up to n = 7) and their cations Si_n+ (up to n = 10) have been produced by femtosecond laser ablation of bulk silicon in vacuum and investigated using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Two populations of the Si_n+ clusters with different velocity and abundance distributions in the ablation plume have been clearly distinguished. Possible mechanisms of cluster formation (Coulomb explosion, gas-phase condensation, phase explosion) are discussed

Conclusions and Recommendations

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 7 (2005): Conclusions and Recommendations by E. Gasparett

One-pot access to functionalised malamides via organocatalytic enantioselective formation of spirocyclic β-lactone-oxindoles and double ring-opening.

Funding: The research leading to these results has received funding from the EPSRC (K.K., EP/T023643/1) and the EaSI-CAT centre for Doctoral Training (A.J.N.). A.D.S. and K.K. thank the EPSRC Programme Grant “Boron: Beyond the Reagent” (EP/W007517) for support.Malamides (diamide derivatives of malic acid) are prevalent in nature and of significant biological interest, yet only limited synthetic methods to access functionalised enantiopure derivatives have been established to date. Herein an effective synthetic method to generate this molecular class is developed through in situ formation of spirocyclic β-lactone-oxindoles (employing a known enantioselective isothiourea-catalysed formal [2+2] cycloaddition of C(1)-ammonium enolates and isatin derivatives) followed by a subsequent dual ring-opening protocol (of the β-lactone and ox-indole) with amine nucleophiles. The application of this protocol is demonstrated across twelve examples to give densely functionalised malamide derivatives with high enantio- and diastereoselectivity (up to >95:5 dr and >99:1 er).Peer reviewe

Catena-[triaquabis(μ2-1,4-bis(diphenylphosphoryl)butane)nitrato-κ2O-praseodymium(III) nitrate monohydrate methanol solvate

The bidentate ligand, 1,4-bis(diphenlyphosphoryl)butane (dppbO2), was used to prepare a 1D polymeric Pr(III) complex which was characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.Peer reviewe

Informal caregiver burden in dialysis care and how it relates to patients' health-related quality of life and symptoms

BackgroundInformal caregivers play a crucial role in dialysis care but may experience significant burden, potentially affecting both caregiver and patient outcomes. Research on caregiver burden and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the relation to patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to (i) describe informal caregivers’ experienced burden and HRQoL and (ii) investigate how these are related to dialysis patients’ HRQoL and symptoms.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study at dialysis initiation with 202 adult informal caregiver–dialysis patient dyads. Caregiver burden was measured with the Self-Perceived Pressure from Informal Care (SPPIC) questionnaire, HRQoL with the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and symptom number and burden with the Dialysis Symptom Index (DSI). Data were analysed using linear and logistic ordinal regression.ResultsAround 38% of caregivers experienced moderate to high burden. Patients’ lower mental HRQoL [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92; 0.99], higher symptom number (aOR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.02; 1.12) and higher symptom burden (aOR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01; 1.04) were associated with greater odds of higher caregiver burden. Patients’ lower mental HRQoL (β = 0.30, 95% CI 0.15; 0.46), higher symptom number (β = –0.55, 95% CI –0.78; –0.31) and higher symptom burden (β = –0.17, 95% CI –0.25; –0.10) were also associated with a lower mental HRQoL in caregivers.ConclusionWe show that a third of caregivers feel moderate to high burden and that caregiver burden is associated with patients’ mental HRQoL and symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing informal caregivers and the nature of their burden.Clinical epidemiolog

Exploring experiences and health-related quality of life of caregivers of patients who start home dialysis: study protocol for a prospective, multicentre cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Starting dialysis not only has a major impact on the life of patients but also on their informal caregivers. Previous research shows greater burden and lower quality of life among caregivers of dialysis patients compared with the general population. Unfortunately, the evidence on the course of both positive and negative experience in caregivers of incident dialysis patients is scarce. Furthermore, well-designed, prospective, multicentre studies comparing caregiving of home dialysis patients with in-centre dialysis patients are lacking. This paper proposes a protocol to assess the trajectory of experiences (both positive and negative) and quality of life of caregivers of home dialysis patients compared with caregivers of in-centre dialysis patients. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This paper presents a protocol for a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study which extends the ongoing Dutch nOcturnal and hoME dialysis Study To Improve Clinical Outcomes (DOMESTICO). This study will include at least 200 adult caregivers of patients who start dialysis therapy and have been included in the DOMESTICO study. Positive experiences of the caregivers will be the primary outcome parameter of this study, and negative experiences and health-related quality of life the secondary outcome parameters. Required support will be investigated as an exploratory finding. Outcome parameters will be assessed at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months after start of dialysis using validated questionnaires. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval for this study has been obtained from the Medical Research Ethics Committee of the Amsterdam University Medical Centre. The results of this study will be disseminated by publication in a peer-reviewed journal and through presentations at conferences and seminars

Informal caregiver burden in dialysis care and how it relates to patients' health-related quality of life and symptoms

Background: Informal caregivers play a crucial role in dialysis care but may experience significant burden, potentially affecting both caregiver and patient outcomes. Research on caregiver burden and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the relation to patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is lacking. Therefore, we aimed to (i) describe informal caregivers' experienced burden and HRQoL and (ii) investigate how these are related to dialysis patients' HRQoL and symptoms. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at dialysis initiation with 202 adult informal caregiver-dialysis patient dyads. Caregiver burden was measured with the Self-Perceived Pressure from Informal Care (SPPIC) questionnaire, HRQoL with the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and symptom number and burden with the Dialysis Symptom Index (DSI). Data were analysed using linear and logistic ordinal regression. Results: Around 38% of caregivers experienced moderate to high burden. Patients' lower mental HRQoL [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.92; 0.99], higher symptom number (aOR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.02; 1.12) and higher symptom burden (aOR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01; 1.04) were associated with greater odds of higher caregiver burden. Patients' lower mental HRQoL (β = 0.30, 95% CI 0.15; 0.46), higher symptom number (β = -0.55, 95% CI -0.78; -0.31) and higher symptom burden (β = -0.17, 95% CI -0.25; -0.10) were also associated with a lower mental HRQoL in caregivers. Conclusion: We show that a third of caregivers feel moderate to high burden and that caregiver burden is associated with patients' mental HRQoL and symptoms. These findings highlight the importance of recognizing informal caregivers and the nature of their burden