[Project to Improve FloTrac Cognition and Skill Accuracy in Nurses Working in the Intensive Care Unit].

BACKGROUND & PROBLEMS: FloTrac is used to monitor hemodynamics in patients. Insufficient awareness of and inexperience with this machine put patients at risk. PURPOSE: A project was developed to increase FloTrac cognitive accuracy from 57.6% to 85% and skill accuracy from 73.3% to 91% in ICU nurses. Also, FloTrac installation time was intended to be reduced to less than 8 minutes and 38 seconds. RESOLUTION: Create a pithy, easy-to-remember formula; make operation teaching videos, operation manuals, and reminder cards; arrange educational training; and monitor quality regularly. RESULTS: FloTrac cognitive accuracy increased from 57.6% to 90.4%; FloTrac skill accuracy increased from 73.3% to 99.7%; and installation time was shortened from 8 minutes and 38 seconds to 5 minutes and 42 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: After implementation of the project, nurses improved their professional knowledge and were better able to help doctors obtain hemodynamic data efficiently to provide patients with accurate and rapid treatment.

Synthesis, Structures and Electrochemical Properties of Lithium 1,3,5-Benzenetricarboxylate Complexes.

Four lithium coordination polymers, [Li3(BTC)(H2O)6] (1), [Li3(BTC)(H2O)5] (2), [Li3(BTC)(µ2-H2O)] (3), and [Li(H2BTC)(H2O)] (4) (H3BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylatic acid), have been synthesized and characterized. All the structures have been determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Complexes 1 and 2 have two-dimensional (2-D) sheets, whereas complex 3 has three-dimensional (3-D) frameworks and complex 4 has one-dimensional (1-D) tubular chains. The crystal-to-crystal transformation was observed in 1⁻3 upon removal of water molecules, which accompanied the changes in structures and ligand bridging modes. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of complexes 3 and 4 have been studied to evaluate these compounds as electrode materials in lithium ion batteries with the discharge capacities of 120 and 257 mAhg-1 in the first thirty cycles, respectively.

Syntheses, structures, and properties of multidimensional lithium coordination polymers based on aliphatic carboxylic acids.

Three lithium coordination polymers, [Li4(H2O)2(EDTA)] (1), [Li4(H2O)4(BTCA)] (2), and (H2NMe2)2[Li2(H2O)2(BTCA)] (3) (H4EDTA = ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, H4BTCA = 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid, H2NMe2 = dimethyl amine), have been synthesized by reacting lithium salts with aliphatic carboxylic acids using a solvothermal method. The structures of all the three complexes have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The single crystal structure analysis revealed that complex 1 has a three-dimensional framework, whereas complex 2 has 2D sheets and complex 3 has 1D chains. In addition, these lithium complexes contain various inorganic motifs with a tetramer in 1 and 2, and discrete tetrahedra in 3 and have further been connected through organic ligands to construct multidimensional structures. Further, the electrochemical properties of complexes 1­3 have been studied to evaluate these compounds as electrode materials for lithium ion batteries with discharge capacities of around 100 mA h g(-1) in the first thirty cycles.

Poly[tetra-kis-(µ-benzene-1,2-dicarboxyl-ato)di-µ-formato-penta-strontium(II)].

The asymmetric unit of the title complex, [Sr(5)(C(8)H(4)O(4))(4)(HCO(2))(2)](n), contains three independent Sr(II) ions, one of which is located on an inversion center. In the crystal, the Sr(II) ions (coordination numbers 8, 9 and 12) are connected by two crystallographically distinct benzene-1,2-dicarboxyl-ate ligands and one formate ligand, forming a two-dimensional polymer parallel to (001).

Poly[tetra-aqua-(µ(8)-butane-1,2,3,4-tetra-carboxyl-ato)distrontium].

In the title compound, [Sr(2)(C(8)H(6)O(8))(H(2)O)(4))](n), the Sr(II) ion is coordinated by six O atoms of four symmetry-related ligands and two water mol-ecules in a distorted bicapped trigonal-prismatic environment. The butane-1,2,3,4-tetra-carboxyl-ate ligands lie on inversion centers and bridge Sr(II) ions, forming a three-dimensional network. Within the three-dimensional structure, there are O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the water mol-ecules and carboxyl-ate O atoms.

Poly[[aqua-(µ(5)-3,4,5,6-tetra-carb-oxy-cyclo-hexane-1,2-dicarboxyl-ato)strontium] monohydrate].

In the title compound, {[Sr(C(12)H(10)O(12))(H(2)O)]·H(2)O}(n), the Sr(II) ion is coordinated by six O atoms of five symmetry-related 3,4,5,6-tetra-carb-oxy-cyclo-hexane-1,2-dicarboxyl-ate ligands and one water mol-ecule in a slightly distorted monocapped trigonal-prismatic environment. The ligands bridge the Sr(II) ions, forming a two-dimensional structure. In the crystal, O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds further connect the structure into a three-dimensional network. The H atoms of two of the carboxyl groups were refined as half-occupancy.

5-Iodo-pyrimidin-2-amine.

The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(4)H(4)IN(3), has crystallographic mirror plane symmetry. In the crystal, the mol-ecules are connected through N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds into polymeric tapes extended along the a axis, which are typical of 2-amino-pyrimidines. Each mol-ecule acts as a double donor and a double acceptor in the hydrogen bonding.

6,6'-Dimethyl-2,2'-[oxalylbis(aza-nedi-yl)]dipyridinium dichloride acetonitrile solvate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(14)H(16)N(4)O(2) (2+)·2Cl(-)·CH(3)CN, weak inter-molecular N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds are found between the H atoms bound to the pyridine and amine N atoms and the chloride anions. The asymmetric unit consits of one half cationic mol-ecule which is located on a centre of inversion, one chloride anion in a general position and one half acetonitrile mol-ecule which is located on a twofold axis. Because of symmetry, the C-H hydrogens of the acetonitrile solvent mol-ecule are disordered over two orientations.

2-{5-[N-(2-Pyridyl)carbamo-yl]pentan-amido}pyridinium hexa-fluoro-phosphate.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(16)H(19)N(4)O(2) (+)·PF(6) (-), the cations and anions are situated on centres of inversion. Thus, the N-H H atom is disordered over both N atoms due to symmetry. In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected via N-H⋯F and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The cation adopts the ⋯AAA⋯ trans conformation in the solid state.

N,N'-Bis(6-methyl-2-pyrid-yl)oxamide.

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C(14)H(14)N(4)O(2), the mol-ecules are almost planar (mean deviation 0.028 Å) and a weak intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bond between the H atom bound to an oxamide N atom and a carbonyl O atom is found. The asymmetric unit consits of one half-mol-ecule which is located on a centre of inversion.

N-(6-Methyl-2-pyrid-yl)formamide.

The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(7)H(8)N(2)O, is essentially planar with a maximum deviation of 0.0439 (1) Šfrom the best plane. In the crystal, N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between self-complementary amide groups join mol-ecules into centrosymmetric dimers.

Formation of barium strontium titanate thin films via electrophoretic deposition process.

Synthesis of crystalline barium stronium titanate (Ba(0.6)Sr(0.4)TiO(3)) nanoparticles and subsequent formation of thin films have been carried out. The crystalline products were confirmed by X-ray diffractometry. Uniform Ba(0.6)Sr(0.4)TiO(3) thin films were formed by using electrophoretic deposition method (EPD) under a 0.3 to 5 V dc bias for 10 min to 1 h. Ba(0.6)Sr(0.4)TiO(3) nanoparticles having an average crystallite size of 20 to 50 nm, and Ba(0.6)Sr(0.4)TiO(3) thin films with thickness of 150 nm to 4 mum were obtained. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to characterize the morphologies of nanoparticles and thin films. The results show that the EPD process route is a rapid, cost-effective alternative for forming Ba(0.6)Sr(0.4)TiO(3) thin films.