bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Levobupivacaine Regional Scalp Block on Hemodynamic Stability, Intra- and Postoperative Opioid Consumption in Supratentorial Craniotomies: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Carella Michele , Tran Gabriel , Bonhomme Vincent L. , Franssen Colette 
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND:
The anesthetic management of supratentorial craniotomy (CR) necessitates tight intraoperative hemodynamic control. This type of surgery may also be associated with substantial postoperative pain. We aimed at evaluating the influence of regional scalp block (SB) on hemodynamic stability during the noxious events of supratentorial craniotomies and total intravenous anesthesia, its influence on intraoperative anesthetic agents’ consumption, and its effect on postoperative pain control.

METHODS:
Sixty patients scheduled for elective CR were prospectively enrolled. Patient, anesthesiologist, and neurosurgeon were blind to the random performance of SB with either levobupivacaine 0.33% (intervention group [group SB], n = 30) or the same volume of saline (control group [group CO], placebo group, n = 30). General anesthesia was induced and maintained using target-controlled infusions of remifentanil and propofol that were adjusted according to hemodynamic parameters and state entropy of the electroencephalogram (SE), respectively. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), SE, and propofol and remifentanil effect-site concentrations (Ce) were recorded at the time of scalp block performance (Baseline), and 0, 1, 3, and 5 minutes after skull-pin fixation (SP), skin incision (SI), CR, and dura-mater incision (DM). Morphine consumption and postoperative pain intensity (0–10 visual analog scale [VAS]) were recorded 1, 3, 6, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Propofol and remifentanil overall infusion rates were also recorded. Data were analyzed using 2-tailed Student unpaired t tests, 2-way mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) tests for post hoc comparisons as appropriate.

RESULTS:
Demographics and length of anesthetic procedure of group CO and SB were comparable. SP, SI, and CR were associated with a significantly higher MAP in group CO than in group SB, at least at one of the time points of recording surrounding those noxious events. This was not the case at DM. Similarly, HR was significantly higher in group CO than in group SB during SP and SI, at least at 1 of the points of recording, but not during CR and DM. Propofol and remifentanil Ce and overall infusion rates were significantly higher in group CO than in group SB, except for propofol Ce during SP. Postoperative pain VAS and cumulative morphine consumption were significantly higher in group CO than in group SB.

CONCLUSIONS:
In supratentorial craniotomies, SB improves hemodynamic control during noxious events and provides adequate and prolonged postoperative pain control as compared to placebo.
The Effect of Mechanical Ventilation With Low Tidal Volume on Blood Loss During Laparoscopic Liver Resection: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gao Xian , Xiong Ya , Huang Jian , Zhang Ning , Li Jianwei , Zheng Shuguo , Lu Kaizhi , Ma Daqing , Yang Bin , Ning Jiaolin 
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND:
Control of bleeding during laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) is important for patient safety. It remains unknown what the effects of mechanical ventilation with varying tidal volumes on bleeding during LLR. Thus, this study aims to investigate whether mechanical ventilation with low tidal volume (LTV) reduces surgical bleeding during LLR.

METHODS:
In this prospective, randomized, and controlled clinical study, 82 patients who underwent scheduled LLR were enrolled and randomly received either mechanical ventilation with LTV group (6–8 mL/kg) along with recruitment maneuver (once/30 min) without positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) or conventional tidal volume (CTV; 10–12 mL/kg) during parenchymal resection. The estimated volume of blood loss during parenchymal resection and the incidence of postoperative respiratory complications were compared between 2 groups.

RESULT:
The estimated volume of blood loss (median [interquartile range {IQR}]) was decreased in the LTV group compared to the CTV group (301 [148, 402] vs 394 [244, 672] mL, P = .009); blood loss per cm2 of transected surface of liver (5.5 [4.1, 7.7] vs 12.2 [9.8, 14.4] mL/cm2, P < .001) and the risk of clinically significant estimated blood loss (>800 mL) were reduced in the LTV group compared to the CTV group (0/40 vs 8/40, P = .003). Blood transfusion was decreased in the LTV group compared to the CTV group (5% vs 20% of patients, P = .043). No patient in the LTV group but 2 patients in the CTV group were switched from LLR to open hepatectomy. Airway plateau pressure was lower in the LTV group compared to the CTV group (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) (12.7 ± 2.4 vs 17.5 ± 3.5 cm H2O, P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS:
Mechanical ventilation with LTV may reduce bleeding during laparoscopic liver surgery.
Short- and Long-Term Stroboscopic Training Effects on Visuomotor Performance in Elite Youth Sports. Part 2: Brain–Behavior Mechanisms
Authors: HÜLSDÜNKER THORBEN , GUNASEKARA NADIRA , MIERAU ANDREAS 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACT

Purpose
Stroboscopic training has repeatedly been shown to improve visuomotor abilities. However, although performance improvements were attributed to visual processes, information on the neurophysiological mechanisms is missing. Part 2 of this study investigated the effects of stroboscopic training on neural visual and motor functions and its contribution to training-induced changes in visuomotor reaction time.

Methods
Forty-five young elite badminton athletes participated in this study, of which 32 (age, 13.7 yr) were included in the final data analysis. Participants were assigned to an intervention (stroboscopic vision) or control group (normal vision). Before and after a 10-wk training and after a 6-wk retention period, participants performed visual perception and reaction tasks in response to visual motion stimuli. The N2 and N2-r motion onset visual-evoked potentials, its linear combination (V
lc), and the BA6 negativity potential were determined using a 64-channel EEG.

Results
A significant TIME–GROUP effect was observed for the V
lc score (P = 0.019, ηp
2 = 0.18), indicating a lower V
lc in the intervention group. However, post hoc tests did not reach significance. Within-subject correlation analyses revealed that changes in reaction speed were related to latency changes in N2 (r = 0.59, P < 0.001), N2-r (r = −0.64, P < 0.001), and the combined V
lc (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). Regression analyses across participants including multiple (N2/N2-r) or single (V
lc) predictors provided an explained variance of >60% (N2/N2-r, r
2 = 0.62; V
lc, r
2 = 0.64). No training effects or correlations were observed for the BA6 negativity.

Conclusions
The results indicate that faster visuomotor reactions after stroboscopic training are accompanied by accelerated visual perception and processing, whereas motor processes seemed to be unaffected. Stroboscopic training may be promising to specifically address the visual system in visuomotor-demanding sports.
Changing trends of anaemia prevalence among female medical students in a metropolitan setting: Assessment through self-grading and haematological parameters
Authors: Salman Arisha , Qureshi Shamim Akhter , Bilal Azmi Muhammad 
Published: October 2020

Objective: To determine the trend of anaemia prevalence among female medical students (FMS) through self-grading along haematological parameters and its association with their nutritional indicators.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a public sector health university of Karachi among FMS from April to September 2016. After written informed consent, 216 FMS were assessed for height and weight, for nutrition habits by calculating minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W) and anaemia status by self-administered validated self-grading anaemia assessment questionnaire (SGAAQ). The haematological parameters were examined in venous blood sample on Sysmex (XN-3000). The data was analysed using IBM SPSS software version 24. Association between anaemia and nutritional indicators was determined by Chi-square and considered significant when p < 0.05.
Results: Anaemia prevalence was 31% with highest frequency among obese (56%) and 29% FMS achieved MDD-W. The mean SGAAQ score, Hb (g/dl), MCV (fl), MCH (pg) and Ret-He (pg) differed significantly (p = <0.001) between anaemic and non-anaemic students. The mean Hb (g/dl) level was significantly higher for FMS who scored MDD-W >5 (p= 0.04).
Conclusion: Malnutrition and anaemia co-exist despite appropriate awareness of anaemia among FMS. It was associated with self-assessment of anaemia and BMI groups but not with dietary diversity in the present study.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.2793
How to cite this:Salman A, Qureshi SA, Azmi MB. Changing trends of anaemia prevalence among female medical students in a metropolitan setting: Assessment through self-grading and haematological parameters. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(7):1533-1538. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.7.2793
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Using developmental evaluation to implement an oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) project in Kenya
Authors: Fogarty Linda , Musau Abednego , Kabue Mark , Were Daniel , Mutegi Jane , Ongwen Patricia , Kamau Mercy , Reed Jason 
Published: October 2020

Oral Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in lowering HIV transmission risk. The Bill and Melinda Gates-funded Jilinde Project was designed to identify the best ways to introduce and support PrEP services in Kenya for female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and adolescent girls and young women. We chose Developmental Evaluation (DE) as a core project approach because our goal was not just to recruit 20,000 new PrEP users, but to learn how to deliver PrEP effectively to optimally benefit users in a complex, dynamic, resource-limited setting. This paper describes how we incorporated DE into the Jilinde Project, and shares experiences and lessons learned about the value of DE in PrEP service implementation in a real-world situation. With the Ministry of Health, Jilinde developed consensus about the structure and roll-out of PrEP services. The DE evaluator, embedded in Jilinde, designed and implemented the five-step DE methodology—collect, review, reflect, record and act—according to a core set of project guiding principles. The paper describes how we operationalized the five elements, citing findings reported and actions taken reflecting on the data. It summarizes challenges to DE implementation, such as uneven uptake and competing demands, and how we addressed those challenges. Used consistently, DE helped adapt and refine PrEP services, improve service access, reach target audiences and improve continuation rates. The look, feel and yield of our DE efforts evolved over time, increasingly integrated into existing systems and providing deeper and richer understandings, and we learned how to better implement DE in the future. This case study provides practical guidance for using a DE approach in program design. The DE process can be used successfully working with partners on a common complex public health challenge within a dynamic environment in a way that feeds back into and improves programs.
Time-Dependent Shortest Path Problems with Penalties and Limits on Waiting
Authors: He Edward , Boland Natashia , Nemhauser George , Savelsbergh Martin 
Published: October 2020

Waiting at the right location at the right time can be critically important in certain variants of time-dependent shortest path problems. We investigate the computational complexity of time-dependent shortest path problems in which there is either a penalty on waiting or a limit on the total time spent waiting at a given subset of the nodes. We show that some cases are nondeterministic polynomial-time hard, and others can be solved in polynomial time, depending on the choice of the subset of nodes, on whether waiting is penalized or constrained, and on the magnitude of the penalty/waiting limit parameter. Summary of Contributions: This paper addresses simple yet relevant extensions of a fundamental problem in Operations Research: the Shortest Path Problem (SPP). It considers time-dependent variants of SPP, which can account for changing traffic and/or weather conditions. The first variant that is tackled allows for waiting at certain nodes but at a cost. The second variant instead places a limit on the total waiting. Both variants have applications in transportation, e.g., when it is possible to wait at certain locations if the benefits outweigh the costs. The paper investigates these problems using complexity analysis and algorithm design, both tools from the field of computing. Different cases are considered depending on which of the nodes contribute to the waiting cost or waiting limit (all nodes, all nodes except the origin, a subset of nodes…). The computational complexity of all cases is determined, providing complexity proofs for the variants that are NP-Hard and polynomial time algorithms for the variants that are in P.
Vertical Contracts in a Supply Chain and the Bullwhip Effect
Authors: Qu Zhan , Raff Horst 
Published: October 2020

This paper shows that decentralized supply chains, in which upstream firms use linear wholesale prices, may experience lower upstream production and downstream sales volatility than vertically integrated supply chains and may be less susceptible to the bullwhip effect by which the variance of upstream production exceeds the variance of downstream sales. The reason is that decentralized supply chains exhibit a price effect, whereby upstream producers raise wholesale prices in the case of positive demand shocks and lower wholesale prices in the case of negative demand shocks. Whereas upstream producers benefit from the price effect and, thus, from a dampening of the bullwhip effect, downstream firms may lose, and overall supply chain profit may decrease. This paper was accepted by Vishal Gaur, operations management.
A systematic approach to reduce hospital food waste based on patient experience
Authors: Rathnayake Dimuthu , Dalpatadu Shanti 
Published: October 2020

Background/Aims Organisational research has been shown to enhance the quality of hospital diet services. This study investigated methods to reduce food waste in the inpatient facilities of a large teaching hospital in Sri Lanka. Methods A patient experience survey was conducted to assess the quality of hospital diets. A new diet process was formulated and evaluated based on the results. Results Patients were satisfied with the food and food service quality, but preferred to eat homemade food during longer hospital stays. Before the intervention, 55% of breakfast meals, 62% of lunch meals and 57% of dinner meals were wasted. Post-intervention evaluation showed a significant reduction in food waste to less than 4% for all meal types. Conclusions Offering patients the opportunity to express meal preference through the diet ordering process reduced hospital food waste to less than 4% in total.
Prevención de lesiones por presión: conocimientos y actitudes del personal de enfermería
Authors: Rodríguez Johana Enyd Cifuentes , Gamboa Sandra Guerrero 
Published: October 2020

Sinopsis Objetivo: Identificar, analizar y sintetizar la evidencia empírica disponible sobre conocimientos y actitudes del personal de enfermería en la prevención de lesiones por presión (LPP). Método: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura publicada entre 2008 y 2019, guiada por las directrices de la declaración PRISMA. Se consultaron bases de datos con los siguientes términos en español, portugués e inglés: actitud, conocimiento, lesión por presión, y enfermeras y enfermeros. Resultados: Un total de 33 artículos con abordaje cuantitativo de tipo descriptivo trasversal cumplió con los criterios de revisión. Los hallazgos revelaron un déficit de conocimientos del personal de enfermería sobre las medidas de prevención de LPP. Las actitudes fueron consideradas positivas. Pocos estudios examinaron la relación entre conocimientos, actitudes y práctica de enfermería. Conclusión: Se necesita mayor educación continuada en conocimientos y actitudes del personal de enfermería en la prevención de LPP, e investigación sobre alternativas en la organización del trabajo de enfermería. La lectura de guías actualizadas de manera regular y realización de cursos de entrenamiento podrían ser estrategias beneficiosas para ejecutar en la práctica.
Isolation and loneliness: pilot of a coffee morning hosted in a general practice
Authors: Johnson Louise , Hardy Sheila 
Published: October 2020

Social isolation and loneliness are a significant and growing problem in the older population in the UK. Louise Johnson and Sheila Hardy performed a pilot study to see whether it was feasible to host a coffee morning for isolated patients in general practice Aim: The aim of this pilot study was to find out whether it was feasible to host a regular coffee morning in a GP practice to reduce isolation and loneliness. Background: Social isolation and loneliness are a significant and growing problem in the older population in the UK and have been identified as a risk factor for all cause morbidity and mortality. Method: A weekly coffee morning was held over 8 weeks. Feedback was gained via a participant questionnaire. Results: In total, 25 people attended the sessions. Just under half felt they had learnt about the healthcare roles in the practice and 80% learnt how to be healthier. Four-fifths were made aware of services and support in the community and 21 felt an increased sense of community. It was difficult for staff to commit due to work responsibilities. Conclusion: It is feasible to hold a coffee morning for isolated patients within a GP practice. Feedback from patients was positive. A programme of coffee mornings over a fixed period that encourage engagement in community services would increase the number of patients benefitting.
Characterization of the Response Maps of Alternating-Current Networks
Authors: Rote Günter 
Published: October 2020

In an alternating-current network, each edge has a complex conductance with positive real part. The response map is the linear map from the vector of voltages at a subset of boundary nodes to the vector of currents flowing into the network through these nodes. In this paper, it is proved that the known necessary conditions for a linear map to be a response map are sufficient, and we show how to construct an appropriate network for a given response map.
Digital holographic microscope for human eye retinal structures recording in vivo
Authors: Zacharovas Stanislovas , Suheimat Marwan , Atchison David A. , Lambert Andrew J. 
Published: October 2020

We introduce the digital holographic microscope for recording in vivo human eye retinal structures. Current eye imaging technologies cannot provide images with resolutions better than 1 µm within depths of a few hundred micrometers. This can be improved with digital holography, in which a hologram of the eye captured with digital camera contains information about structures over the full depth of the eye. This information can be reconstructed either optically or numerically. Our hologram recording scheme utilizes working principles of the off-axis digital holographic microscope, designed for reflective micro-object investigation. The eye cornea and lens form the microscope objective. We can record in vivo digital holograms of the human eye retina with resolution after reconstruction of at least 1.3 micrometer.
Dynamic calibration and compensation method of a large-scale laser beam based on specular reflection for a nonorthogonal shaft laser theodolite measurement system
Authors: Miao Fengjin , Wu Bin , Sun Zefeng , Peng Congcong , Ma Gaoju 
Published: October 2020

The nonorthogonal shaft laser theodolite (N-theodolite) measurement system is a new kind of instrument that can be applied to large-scale metrology. Different from traditional theodolites, the three axes of the N-theodolite have no requirements on the orthogonality and intersection. For the measurement in laser scale, the parameters of the system on a large scale must be known. A calibration method of the laser beam based on specular reflection and its compensation are proposed, which are at a range of 12 m. Through the experiments, the results show that the straightness accuracy of the laser beam of the left N-theodolite is 0.12 mm at a range of 12 m, and the right one is 0.14 mm. Through the measurement experiments, the maximum measurement deviation of the system is 0.27 mm, which is verified to be a feasible method to calibrate the laser beam in large-scale space.
Risk Factor Profiles Can Distinguish Esophageal Adenocarcinoma From Barrett's Esophagus
Authors: Sawas Tarek , Dilmaghani Saam , Dhaliwal Lovekirat , Wang Kenneth K. , Iyer Prasad G. , Katzka David A. 
Published: October 2020

INTRODUCTION:
It is assumed that screening risk factors for Barrett's esophagus (BE) and prevalent esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) are the same.

METHODS:
A matched case-control study comparing risk factors between EAC and BE was performed.

RESULTS:
In 1,356 patients (678 with EAC and 678 with BE), heartburn (52.7%), diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and metabolic syndrome were less common in EAC (52.7, 29.2, 45.7, 48.2, 12, and 28.5%, resp.) compared with BE (84.5, 37.6, 82.2, 64.6, 18.4, and 44.1%, P < 0.01). Mean alanine aminotransferase and HgA1c levels were also significantly lower in EAC compared with BE.

DISCUSSION:
Optimal strategies for screening for prevalent EAC may be different than that for BE.
Trial Within a Reasonable Time and the Impact of Justice Reform in Albania
Authors: Bara Jonad , Bara Brunilda 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Since becoming a potential candidate country for the EU accession in 2000 and in particular after being granted candidate status in June 2014, Albania has taken many positive steps to meet the necessary standards for its EU integration, through among other things, strengthening democracy and the rule of law and the harmonization of its national legislation with the acquis communautaire. In 2016, as part of the pre-conditions for the opening of the accession negotiations for the country, the Albanian Parliament passed a major justice reform which brought about many constitutional and legislative changes, as well as changes to the organization and functioning of justice institutions in Albania. A key component of the reform was the transitional re-evaluation of judges and prosecutors (also known as the vetting process). While the reform itself was supported and praised by the EU and international institutions, the vetting process has affected the functioning of the Albanian judiciary at all levels. The paralysis of the justice system due to the low number of judges who successfully passed the vetting process, as well as the resignation of many others, has significantly increased the backlog and the number of pending cases before the courts. Thus, the aim of the paper is to analyze the influence of the justice reform on individual’s right to a fair trial within a reasonable time in Albania and state’s obligations to guarantee this right as provided by the Constitution of Albania and the European Convention on Human Rights.