bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health-Related Quality of Life Among Patients with Severe Carotid Artery Stenosis / Ar Veselību Saistītās Dzīves Kvalitātes Novērtējums Pacientiem ar Nozīmīgu Miega Artērijas Stenozi
Authors: Pūcīte Elīna , Šlisers Marius , Miglāne Evija , Krieviņš Dainis , Millers Andrejs , Blimhena Inese 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Information about changes of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after revascularisation as well how revascularisation procedure influences daily activities, cognitive functioning and general health is controversial. The objectives of our study were to evaluate and describe the HRQoL among patients with severe carotid artery disease; to evaluate the difference of HRQoL between symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery disease; and to explore the possible associations between some demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with carotid artery disease and HRQoL. The cross-sectional study included 33 patients who were referred for carotid artery endarterectomy. Data assessment was done one to three days before surgery. The HRQoL was assessed using the Medical Outcome Survey Form 36 (SF-36v2). Patients with symptomatic carotid artery disease had the lowest mean SF-36v2 scores for physical functioning, role-physical, general health and mental health. There was moderate correlation (rs = 0.441) between mean SF- 36v2 scores of mental health and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) scores. There is also indirect indication for probable correlation between MoCA test scores and mean SF-36v2 scores of social functioning, which might become statistically significant if more patients would be included. Patients with severe carotid artery disease in our study had lower mean SF-36v2 scores for role-physical, for bodily pain and for perception about their health status (general health). HRQoL in patients with severe carotid artery, stenosis was poorer in patients with symptomatic carotid artery disease and was not affected by gender and other clinical characteristics.
Research on Social Anxiety in Patients with Essential Tremor and Parkinson’s Disease in a Sample of the Latvian Population / Sociālās Trauksmes Izpēte Pacientiem ar Esenciālu Tremoru un Parkinsona Slimību Latvijas Populācijā
Authors: Smeltere Ligita , Kuzņecovs Vladimirs , Smelters Roberts 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Essential tremor is considered to be one of the most common movement disorders in the world, but its non-motor symptoms have been studied relatively little in clinical practice. The objective of this study was to identify the symptoms of social anxiety and their association with motor symptoms in 40 patients with essential tremor (ET), in comparison with 35 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 39 patients of the control group from the Latvian population. This was conducted by neurological investigation, five patient self-assessment questionnaires (DASS, BDI, SIAS, SPS, STAI), and clinical interviews. The findings are as follows: using SIAS (Social Interaction Anxiety Scale), in ET patients there was no significant correlation between the severity of tremor and anxiety during social contacts (p > 0.05), but there was a moderate positive significant correlation with the social phobia scale (SPS) score (rs=0.35; p < 0.05). In the ET group, social anxiety (phobia) disorder was found in 50% of the patients according to ICD-10, but in 35% according to DSM-5. In the PD group, the diagnostic criteria of social anxiety disorder were met by 42.86% according to ICD-10 and 25.71% according to DSM-5. In the control group mild social anxiety was found and the criteria met by 20.51% according to ICD-10 and 7.69% according to DSM-5.
First Experience and the Effectiveness of Immunomodulating Treatment in Inflammatory Demyelinating CNS Diseases: Analysis of Nine Patients / Imūnmodulējošās Terapijas Efektivitāte Centrālās Nervu Sistēmas Iekaisīgu Saslimšanu Gadījumos: Deviņu Pacientu Analīze
Authors: Vainšteine Lana , Kostiks Andrejs , Karelis Guntis , Ķēniņa Viktorija , Zlobina Natalja , Krūmiņa Angelika 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is used in many neurological disorders to remove immunoglobulin and other immunologically active substances. We observed patients that were admitted in Rīga East Clinical University Hospital “Gaiļezers”, Clinic of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Multiple Sclerosis Unit, and were diagnosed with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), according to McDonald criteria 2010 (five patients), Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum disorders (three patients) and one with NMO, according to Wingerchuk 2006 criteria. All relapses were confirmed according to clinical criteria. Visual acuity was assessed by an ophthalmologist, and neurological status by a neurologist. All patients received at least 1 cycle of 1000 mg methylprednisolone intravenous for five to seven days. The expanded disability status scale score in the MS patient group was in range 4.0-9.0 before TPE and 3.5-6.5 range after TPE. Best improvement was observed in the MS group: mean symptom reduction of 20%. Patients with NMO spectrum disorder had an EDSS score of 8.0-8.5 range on admission and 6.5-8.0 range after TPE. After one month, one patient in the NMO spectrum disorder group had good response to TPE and EDSS was 3.5, two patients had only slight improvement (EDSS scores 8.0 and 7.5). Condition of patients with NMO did not improve even after a month.
Anatomic patterns of maxillary sinus drainage
Authors: Derjac-Arama Andreea – Ioana , Mihai Stefania Anca , Sandulescu Mihai , Rusu Mugurel Constantin 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
Background. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery may be indicated when certain anatomic variations impede the normal drainage of the paranasal sinuses through the ostiomeatal complex. We aimed at studying the drainage system of the maxillary sinus which consists of the maxillary infundibulum, the main ostium of the maxillary sinus, the ethmoidal infundibulum and the hiatus semilunaris inferior.
Material and methods. The study was performed retrospectively on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of 60 subjects (N=120 maxillary sinuses). The anatomical pattern of the maxillary sinus drainage was studied on coronal scans.
Results. As related to different morphological possibilities in the supero-lateral limit of the maxillary sinus drainage system, five different patterns were defined: in type I (55%) there was no pneumatization in that situs, in type II (18%) there was an infraorbital recess of the maxillary sinus placed above the sinus ostium, in type III (14%) an ethmoidal recess of the maxillary sinus was expanded within the ethmoid bone, above the ethmoidal infundibulum, in type IV (3%) there were Haller cells above the sinus ostium, while in type V (10%) there were non-infraorbital ethmoid air cells above and draining into the ethmoidal infundibulum.
Conclusion. It appears that CBCT is a reliable tool to make an anatomical distinction of the variable pattern of pneumatization impeding a normal drainage of the maxillary sinus, between maxillary sinus- and ethmoid-derived air-filled spaces.
The USP8 mutational status may predict drug susceptibility in corticotroph adenomas of Cushing's disease
Authors: Hayashi Kyohei , Inoshita Naoko , Kawaguchi Kohei , Ibrahim Ardisasmita Arif , Suzuki Hisanori , Fukuhara Noriaki , Okada Mitsuo , Nishioka Hiroshi , Takeuchi Yasuhiro , Komada Masayuki , Takeshita Akira , Yamada Shozo 
Published: November 2015

ContextSomatic mutations in the ubiquitin-specific peptidase USP8 gene were recently detected in one- to two-third(s) of corticotroph adenomas of Cushing's disease (CD). These mutations may lead to the deubiquitination of EGFR, thereby increasing EGFR signaling, which has been implicated in ACTH hypersecretion.ObjectiveOur objective was to determine the impact of USP8 mutations on the clinicopathological features of CD.Subjects and methodsUSP8 mutations as well as clinicopathological characteristics were examined in 60 corticotroph adenomas including 15 Crooke's cell adenomas (CCAs), a rare histological variant presenting with generally aggressive behavior, using qRT-PCR and/or immunohistochemistry.ResultsUSP8 mutations were exclusively detected in women, except for one case, with a prevalence of 42.2% in non-CCA and 13.3% in CCA (overall 35%). Clinically well-behaved presentations including microadenoma and curative resection were more common in mutated cases. The expression of EGFR was not associated with the mutation status. In contrast, mutated tumors expressed significantly higher levels of POMC, SSTR5, and MGMT.ConclusionsMicroadenomas that strongly express POMC were common among mutated tumors, which may lead to the mechanisms by which very small adenomas secrete excess ACTH to present overt CD. While USP8 mutations were less likely to enhance tumorous ACTH hypersecretion via EGFR-mediated activation, the presence of USP8 mutations may predict favorable responses to the somatostatin analog pasireotide, which exhibits high affinity for SSTR5. In contrast, non-mutated aggressive tumors such as CCA may respond better to the alkylating agent temozolomide because of their significantly weak expression of MGMT.
Guest Column—On “Learning to Read”
Authors: Ender Evelyne , Lynch Deidre Shauna 
Published: November 2015

The theories and methodologies feature of this issue ofPMLAcontains a cluster of essays devoted to the subject of reading. At a time when many states in the United States are in the throes of a major public-education reform designed to prepare better-educated, more literate citizens for tomorrow's world, we collected these essays in the belief that scholars belonging to the MLA might be interested in reflecting on this effort in the light of their research. Hence our title, “Learning to Read,” and our appeal to our contributors to consider what they, with their scholarly expertise and pedagogical experience, might contribute to the charged debates about the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI)— debates that remind us of the high stakes involved in training good readers. We hope thatPMLAreaders will agree with us that the question of how the architects of the Common Core have defined the uses and measures of literacy education affects much of the MLA membership—professors, adjuncts, and graduate instructors alike.For some years now, test results have indicated that American schoolchildren read more poorly than many of their peers abroad (Heitin). A distinctive feature of the Common Core (the shorthand title for an extraordinary effort to align educational requirements and standards nationwide) lies in its effort to devise a graduated progression in the standards for the English language arts (ELA) that is anchored in the skills of close reading. Given that the changes in teaching objectives defined and prescribed by the standards might transform the way children in America learn to make sense of the written word, it is only natural that our professional body would respond. The decisive, and some might say aggressive, manner in which the architects of the Common Core have recast the fundamentals of the ELA has provoked strong reactions, not only among K-12 teachers but also in higher education. Concerns were voiced early on in sessions at MLA conventions starting in 2013, and those conversations have continued onMLA Commons(e.g., Ferguson).
Commentary On “Theory-led design of instruments and representations in learning analytics: Developing a novel tool for orchestration of online collaborative learning”
Authors: Teplovs Chris 
Published: November 2015

This commentary reflects on the contributions to learning analytics and theory by a paper that describes how multiple theoretical frameworks were woven together to inform the creation of a new automated discourse analysis tool. The commentary highlights the contributions of the original paper, provides some alternative approaches, and touches on issues of sustainability and scalability of learning analytics innovations.
Comprehensive Optimization Methodology for Stimulation Design of Low-Permeability Unconventional Gas Reservoirs
Authors: Bhattacharya Srimoyee , Nikolaou Michael 
Published: November 2015

SummaryOver the past decade, multiple-fracture horizontal wells (MFHWs) have proved successful in recovering oil and particularly gas from very-low-permeability reservoirs. For MFHW planning and design, it is important to be able to make decisions on several variables, such as number of wells, number of fractures per well, amount and type of proppant per fracture, fracture dimensions (length, width, and height), and possibly others. Standard practice for making such decisions is mostly empirical. However, empiricism may not be as successful for new cases that are significantly different from old ones. In such cases, what-if analysis is used by combining intuition with numerical simulators to assess the outcomes of possible decisions. Even though this approach may produce feasible results, it is unlikely that it leads to optimal decisions because of the complexity of the problem. Therefore, a systematic methodology is needed for MFHW planning and design that produces optimal solutions efficiently and effectively.In this work, we develop such a methodology that optimizes net present value (NPV). The methodology poses the design problem as nested optimization in which the outer-optimization shell involves decisions on the number of wells, number of fractures per well, and amount of proppant, whereas the inner optimization maximizes the productivity index (PI) by selecting optimal fracture dimensions. The proposed methodology integrates in a systematic way a fracture-design module, a production-estimation module, and an economics module. Because the methodology is automated and numerically efficient, one can use it effectively for field development.A case study is used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed methodology, and suggestions are made for further improvements.
Reservoir Characterization and Geological Model for the Lower T Sandstone and Lower U Sandstone, Tapi – TTT Oilfield, Oriente Basin, Ecuador: A Core- and Log-Based Study
Authors: Toro-Álava J. , Luzuriaga K. , Corozo O. , Coral L. 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to improve the knowledge, increase the quality of the input data for the static and dynamic modeling, and to contribute to define new areas for exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the Cretaceous reservoirs of the Tapi-TTT oilfield, Block 57, northernmost Oriente basin, Ecuador. Specifically, the pursued objectives were: understand the structural context of this oilfield, run sedimentological core descriptions and identify regional sequence stratigraphic surfaces, define major paleoenvironments, describe the paleogeography of the sedimentary area, construct field maps of sediment distribution, run a quality control and interpret the petrophysical data, and characterize the reservoirs.
For getting the objectives there were employed two 4-in core samples 102.5-ft in length, well logs, and a conventional study on 122 core plugs of the Tapi-9 well.
The study concludes that the Lower T Sandstone reservoir, upper Albian in age, is a good quality clastic reservoir, composed by medium-grained Orthoquarzites, with its petrophysical parameters depending on its sedimentological facies, with the best quality reservoir facies placed in the sandy fluvial- to tide-dominated estuarine realms and the less quality reservoir facies in the medium to upper shoreface clastic realms, and showing a near equal reservoir capacity for fluid flowing in the H & V directions and a great potential of depletion.
For the Lower U Sandstone, lower Cenomanian in age, the study concludes that it is a good to excellent reservoir, with its petrophysical parameters depending on its sedimentological facies too, with the best quality reservoir facies occurring in the sandy tide-dominated estuarine realm and the less quality reservoir facies in the silty-sandy (tight) tide-dominated estuarine realm, and showing a different reservoir capacity for fluid flowing in V & H directions and a low potential of depletion but with a high potential of creating stratigraphic traps.
Improving Recovery from a Mature Reservoir by Understanding the Stratigraphy, Eden-Yuturi Field, Oriente Basin, Ecuador
Authors: Gonzalez G. , David Bermeo P. , Alvarez I. T. , Lafournére J. , Henson R. , Fonseca C. , Vinicio Vega J. , Grijalva R. , Valdez A. , Proaño G. 
Published: November 2015

Abstract
The Eden Yuturi field, first exploited in 2002, is located in the northeast of the Oriente basin, Ecuador. The field was initially operated by Occidental Petroleum and has been operated by Petroamazonas EP (PAM) since 2006. From its peak production of 83.8 million B/D in August 2004, the field declined and now produces less than 30 million B/D, with a water cut of 92%. In 2014, PAM awarded an incremental production based service contract to the Kamana Services consortium, with the objective of reversing the field decline and increasing the recovery factor by optimizing production and applying enhanced oil recovery techniques.
The Lower U in the Cretaceous Napo formation is one of the most important reservoirs in this mature field and has a cumulative oil production of 48.1 million barrels (as of July 2015) from 110 wells. The production is supported by a water drive mechanism and a strong aquifer.
The major challenge for the consortium is to define an optimal field development plan that maximizes the current recovery factor of 34%. To achieve this goal, it is crucial to enhance the reservoir characterization by integrating all the available information from multiple disciplines and use this knowledge to understand the fluid dynamics in the reservoir.
The sedimentary column of the Lower U is interpreted as fluvial at the base follow by tide-dominated estuarine tidal shelf deposits grading into lower shoreface deposits towards the top of the reservoir. This transition subdivides the reservoir column into different hydraulic units. However, the vertical stacking of these hydraulic units is not present across the whole field, and amalgamation has been observed in specific zones. The fluid dynamics changes inside the reservoir have a large impact on the waterdrive mechanism sweep efficiency, as identified in the pressure and production performance analysis of the reservoir across the area, and differences in pressure levels and water cuts trends are evident.
Therefore, a proper stratigraphic characterization is the key to optimizing the field development strategy of the Lower U reservoir to improve the ultimate recovery factor.
In this paper, we describe how the stratigraphic characterization has been performed and the final framework obtained by the multidisciplinary team, to be used for the optimized development strategy of the Lower U reservoir.
Numerical Modelling of Hydraulic Fracturing in Cohesionless Sand: Validation Against Laboratory Experiments
Authors: Taghipoor Siavash , Nouri Alireza , Chan Dave 
Published: November 2015

Summary
In this paper, a new hydraulic-fracturing model is introduced for cohesionless sand, which is also applicable to weak sandstone formations with high permeability and low shear strength. Phenomena such as shear-band development and shear-enhanced permeability are of paramount importance during hydraulic fracturing of cohesionless sand or weak sandstones, which make the fracturing response quite different from what it is conventionally believed to be in competent rocks.
The smeared approach in simulating hydraulic fracturing has been implemented in the proposed model within the continuum mechanics framework. Both matrix and fracture flow have been considered in this model. Tensile- and shear-fracture development and their fluid flow were simulated. The cubic law and Touhidi-Baghini’s shear-permeability model (Touhidi-Baghini 1998) were used to capture the permeability evolution and to model flow in tensile and shear fractures, respectively. Shear fracturing of geomaterials involves intense localization of deformation and strain softening, which is a discontinuous phenomenon, resulting in mesh dependency of the results in the continuum model. The fracture-energy-regularization method was used in this model to reduce the mesh-size dependency of the energy dissipated during fracture propagation.
The smeared-fracture approach has been validated against laboratory hydraulic-fracturing experiments with reasonable agreement. Consistent with the experiments, the results of the numerical model indicate that tensile fractures are formed in a very small area around the injection point despite the application of high injection pressure compared with the minimum boundary stress. It is found that shear fracturing and shear-permeability evolution are the most important mechanisms that influence and control the fracturing response. The dominant fracturing mechanism is found to be governed by the high permeability and low shear strength of the material.
Comparative Account of Quality Management and Regulatory Aspects of Products with Health Claims: Existing Approaches and Future Challenges for Probiotics and Herbal Products
Authors: Arora Malika , Baldi Ashish 
Published: November 2015

Background:
Quality, the basic requirement, is meeting stated as well as implied needs of customer. It holds paramount significance when it is specifically related with health care products especially drugs and other related products. These traditional therapies are being explored today for its overwhelming roles in health care sector. However, lot many consequences are associated with traditional medicine with respect to their efficacy, safety and quality.

Methods:
For the present article, literature has been reviewed in context to current approaches, used for quality control of pharmaceuticals, probiotics and herbal across the globe.

Results:
This review has been compiled to discuss various factors associated with safety concern of selected health care products. It highlights various concerned factors associated with effective monitoring of the safety of traditional medicines including herbal products and live microorganisms i.e. probiotics and nutraceuticals in comparison to widely accepted pharmaceuticals.

Conclusion
Safety is supposed to be the major concern regarding health claiming products hence relevant regulatory regimes should be enforced to deliver quality as per demand of the consumer.