bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combined effect of glycation and sodium carbonate–bicarbonate buffer concentration on IgG binding, IgE binding and conformation of ovalbumin
Authors: Ma Xiao‐juan , Gao Jin‐yan , Chen Hong‐bing 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDOvalbumin (OVA) is a major allergen in hen egg. During thermal processing, reducing sugars contained in the hen egg white might easily undergo glycation with OVA, but few studies have been conducted on its corresponding immunoreactivity changes. The aim of the present study was to assess changes of the antigenicity, potential allergenicity and conformation of OVA after glycation in a wet‐thermal processing system under different concentrations of sodium carbonate–bicarbonate buffer.ResultsIgE binding of the glycated OVA was increased after glycation, and the higher the sodium carbonate–bicarbonate buffer concentration, the higher the IgE binding capacity. The increase in IgE binding of OVA corresponded well with the disruption of the disulfide bond, which exposed the epitopes initially buried. Antigenicity of the glycated OVA was increased, and the amount of the increase varied among samples treated under different buffer concentrations.ConclusionGlycation increased the allergenic potential for OVA, with the amount of increase varying with different sodium carbonate–bicarbonate buffer concentrations. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Chemical characteristics and biofuels potentials of various plant biomasses: influence of the harvesting date
Authors: Godin Bruno , Lamaudière Stéphane , Agneessens Richard , Schmit Thomas , Goffart Jean‐Pierre , Stilmant Didier , Gerin Patrick A , Delcarte Jérôme 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBACKGROUNDAn optimal valorization of plant biomasses to produce biofuels requires a good knowledge of the available contents and molecular composition of the main chemical components, which changes with the harvesting date. Therefore, we assessed the influence of harvesting date on the chemical characteristics of various energy crops in the context of their conversion to biofuels.RESULTSWe showed that the biomass chemical composition, enzymatic digestible organic matter, bioethanol and thermal energy production potential for each species are impacted by the harvesting date. The proportion of enzymatically digestible organic matter decreases as the harvesting date is delayed. This is related to the increase in cellulose and lignin contents. The suitability of the biomasses for bioethanol production increases with harvest stage, as the total carbohydrates content increases. The suitability of the biomasses as a source of thermal energy increases according to the harvesting date as the proportion of organic matter increases and the content of mineral compounds decreases. For all investigated energy conversions, the best harvesting period is autumn, because the significantly higher crop dry matter yield largely compensates for the sometimes slightly less favorable chemical characteristics.CONCLUSIONWhile the biomass composition of energy crops changes with harvest stage, the dry biomass yield per unit area is the main factor that controls the total amount of chemical components, digestible organic matter, bioethanol and thermal energy that can be expected to be harvested per unit area. The biomass compositions presented in this paper are essential to investigate their suitability for bioenergy conversion. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Different Shades of Green: Environmental Management in Hotels in Accra
Authors: Mensah Ishmael 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThis paper assesses the environmental management practices of different categories of hotels in Accra, Ghana. Managers of 200 hotels were surveyed, employing the stratified random sampling method. Results of the study indicate significant differences in the extent of environmental management of the hotels suggesting that the better the quality of a hotel, the better the environmental management performance. Suggestions are made towards improvement in waste management and voluntary environmental programmes in small and medium hotels that did not perform well in those areas of environmental management Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Air space reduction tympanomastoidectomy repairs difficult perforations more reliably than tympanoplasty
Authors: Redleaf Miriam I. 
Published: April 2013

Objectives/HypothesisAir space reduction tympanomastoidectomy improves outcomes over tympanoplasty in repairing tympanic membrane perforations in the presence of unfavorable risk factors.Study DesignRetrospective review of 67 subjects' 87 operations.MethodsInterventions were tympanoplasty versus air space reduction tympanomastoidectomy. Risk factors were contracted mastoid air cells, previous failed operations, descent from the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and middle/ear mastoid volumes l<3 CC. Favorable outcomes were closure of the perforation, no decline in hearing, and creation of a self‐cleaning mastoid bowl.ResultsFive out of 46 air space reduction tympanomastoidectomies failed to close their perforations (11%). Pure‐tone threshold (PTA) worsened in 13/46 ears (28%). Four of 46 required mastoid bowl cleaning (9%). In contrast, 21 of 41 tympanoplasties failed to close (51%). PTA worsened in 9/34 ears (26%). All four tympanoplasty failures treated with an air space reduction tympanomastoidectomy closed. Three of the seven tympanoplasty failures treated with a second tympanoplasty did not close. Statistical analysis found two risk factors more prevalent among the air space reduction tympanomastoidectomies: contracted mastoids (P = .019) and middle ear volumes <3 CC (P = .0001). Increased closure of perforations occurring after the air space reduction tympanomastoidectomy was also statistically significant (P = .0002). Descendants of indigenous peoples of the Americas trended toward better PTAs after their air space reduction tympanomastoidectomies than their tympanoplasties and showed statistically significant increases in closure of perforation (P = .0046).ConclusionsAir space reduction tympanomastoidectomy is an effective and safe method for closing tympanic membrane perforations. © 147.Level of EvidenceLevel of Evidence: 2b Laryngoscope, 124:S1–S13, 2014
Eosinophilic rhinosinusitis is not a disease of ostiomeatal occlusion
Authors: Snidvongs Kornkiat , Chin David , Sacks Raymond , Earls Peter , Harvey Richard J. 
Published: April 2013

Objectives/HypothesisOstiomeatal complex (OMC) occlusion may play a role in the pathogenesis of some chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) subgroups, but its role in diffuse mucosal inflammation is strongly debated. The association between radiological OMC occlusion and its draining sinuses in patients with eosinophilic rhinosinusitis (ECRS) compared to non‐ECRS is investigated.Study DesignCase‐control study.MethodsPatients with CRS who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery were investigated. Preoperative computed tomography scans were evaluated. Structured histopathology reporting was performed. The study group was patients with high tissue eosinophil >10/high power fields (HPF), and the control group was patients with low tissue eosinophil ≤10/HPF. The radiological relationship of OMC occlusion to the draining sinuses was analyzed in each group.ResultsSeventy patients with a mean age of 49.7 ± 14.1 years were analyzed. Forty‐one (58.6%) patients had high tissue eosinophil >10/HPF. All patients with ECRS had maxillary disease, and there were 36.2% without OMC occlusion. There was no association of OMC occlusion to either the anterior ethmoid (ECRS: odds ratio [OR], 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.24‐14.14; P = .55; non‐ECRS: OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 0.34‐7.33; P = .56) or frontal sinuses (ECRS: OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.12‐3.82; P = .65; non‐ECRS: OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 0.45‐5.54; P = .47). For patients with non‐ECRS, maxillary sinus diseases was present in 96.2% of those with OMC occlusion and 50% of those without (OR, 25.0; 95% CI, 2.77‐226.08; P < .001).ConclusionsOMC occlusion is not associated with draining sinuses for patients with ECRS. Simple surgical interventions directed at the OMC are unlikely to be of benefit to this CRS subgroup.Level of Evidence3b.
Parental stress in raising mandarin‐speaking children with cochlear implants
Authors: Chen Yen‐An , Chan Kai‐Chieh , Liao Pei‐Ju , Chen Chin‐Kuo , Wu Che‐Ming 
Published: April 2013

Objectives/HypothesisTo investigate the characteristics of parental stress in the child, parent, and total domains in families of Mandarin‐speaking children with cochlear implants at four different time periods in the implantation process. Previous studies have shown that parental stress lessens after cochlear implantation surgery.Study DesignCross‐sectional case series.MethodsSelf‐reported questionnaires based on Abidin's Parenting Stress Index (Taiwanese edition) were filled out by 113 mothers of children with cochlear implants. Factors related to parental stress were analyzed. In addition, we calculated the percentage of families experiencing high levels of stress (percentile ≥90) and compared the differences in stress level between each time period (preoperatively, postoperative time < 2 years, postoperative time between 2 and 5 years, and postoperative time >5 years).ResultsParent socioeconomic status, patient sex, and patient age were significantly related to the total parental stress. In the study of families experiencing high‐stress between each time period, we found that parents had the highest level of parenting stress during the period of 0 to 2 years postoperatively in the total (odds ratio, 1.89) and child domain (odds ratio, 4.23). The contrary result was found in the parent domain, of which the highest odds ratio was found in the preoperative period.ConclusionsAlthough parental stress in the parent domain lessened after the cochlear implantation surgery, parents experienced the highest level of total parental stress during the period of 0 to 2 years postoperatively. The degree of total parenting stress did not lessen after the cochlear implantation surgery.Level of Evidence4.
Cochlear implantation for unilateral deafness with and without tinnitus: A case series
Authors: Távora‐Vieira Dayse , Marino Roberta , Krishnaswamy Jay , Kuthbutheen Jafri , Rajan Gunesh P. 
Published: April 2013

Objectives/HypothesisTo investigate cochlear implantation (CI) in patients with unilateral deafness with and without tinnitus.Study DesignProspective case series of patients undergoing cochlear implantation for unilateral deafness and tinnitus in a tertiary academic unit.MethodsNine postlingually deafened subjects with unilateral hearing loss, with and without tinnitus ipsilaterally, and functional hearing in the contralateral ear were implanted with a standard electrode. Speech perception in noise was tested using the Bamford‐Kowal‐Bench presented at 65 dB SPL. The Speech, Spatial, and Qualities (SSQ) of Hearing Scale was used to evaluate the subjective perception of hearing outcomes, and the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire assessed the effect on tinnitus.ResultsAll patients were implanted with the Med‐El Flex soft electrode, Innsbruck, Austria. They are regularly wearing the speech processor and find it beneficial in improving their ability to hear, particularly in noise. Decrease of tinnitus perception and an improvement of sound localization sounds were also reported by these patients.ConclusionIn our case series, CI was successful for all nine patients, with improvement of speech recognition in noise, self‐perceived improvement of hearing, and for tinnitus control. Several factors such as deafness duration, age of deafness onset, the presence of residual hearing, patient motivation, and the rehabilitation intensity need to be further investigated in order to understand their impact on performance after implantation.Level of Evidence4.
The use of the facial clinimetric evaluation scale as a patient‐based grading system in bell's palsy
Authors: Ng Jia Hui , Ngo Raymond Yeow Seng 
Published: April 2013

Objectives/HypothesisThe severity of Bell's facial palsy is monitored through physician‐graded instruments, like the House‐Brackmann or Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (FGS). These instruments primarily measure the degree of facial muscle impairment and its resulting asymmetry, but neglect the other functional aspects of facial disability. The aim of this study is therefore to compare the FGS with a patient‐graded quality‐of‐life (QOL) instrument, Facial Clinimetric Evaluation Scale (FaCE).Study DesignProspective longitudinal study.MethodsTwenty‐one patients with newly diagnosed Bell's palsy were recruited. All patients received standard treatment with a corticosteroid. They were scored with the FGS at every visit, and they also completed the FaCE at baseline and when they recovered from their palsy.ResultsAt presentation, there was a positive correlation between the FGS score and the total FaCE score (ρ = 0.63, P = .002). However, when individual domains of the FaCE score were analyzed separately, the domains of facial comfort and lacrimal score did not have significant correlation with the FGS. Similarly, at the end of follow‐up, the amount of improvement in FGS and the amount of improvement in the FaCE domains of facial comfort, lacrimal control, and social function showed insignificant and low correlation (P < .05).ConclusionsThis is the first longitudinal study comparing scores on the FGS and FaCE in patients with Bell's palsy. Our findings suggest that without patient‐based QOL assessments such as the FaCE, certain functional aspects of facial disability may be overlooked by physician‐graded instruments, which focus on facial aesthetics.Level of Evidence4.
Hearing loss with phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitors
Authors: Thakur Jagdeep S. , Thakur Somesh , Sharma Dev R. , Mohindroo Narinder K. , Thakur Anamika , Negi Prakash C. 
Published: April 2013

Objectives/HypothesisTo assess the effect of tadalafil on auditory functions.Study DesignProspective observational study in a tertiary care hospital.MethodsTwenty‐five tadalafil naïve patients with erectile dysfunction or pulmonary artery hypertension were subjected to pure‐tone and brainstem‐evoked response audiometry before drug therapy, and 3 and 30 days following drug therapy. Results were compared using analysis of variance for repeated measures with Bonferonni correction.ResultsFifteen patients were taking tadalafil 10 mg for erectile dysfunction, and another 10 patients were on tadalafil 20 mg once daily for pulmonary artery hypertension. No statistically significant difference was found in hearing threshold at baseline and at follow‐up (P > .05). However, three patients on tadalafil 20 mg showed a significant increase in hearing threshold at higher frequencies. There was no incidence of sudden sensorineural hearing loss in the study group.ConclusionsThis is the first prospective and observational study that evaluated the effect of tadalafil on auditory functions with objective tests. Although there was no statistically significant result to confirm or refute the association between tadalafil and hearing impairment, increased threshold at higher frequencies after taking tadalafil supports the results from previous studies and hints at a possible relationship between the two. Similar large sample studies are warranted to know the exact association of phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitors on auditory functions.Level of Evidence4.
The Effects of topical anesthetic on swallowing during nasoendoscopy
Authors: Lester Scott , Langmore Susan E. , Lintzenich Catherine R. , Wright S. Carter , Grace‐Martin Karen , Fife Tim , Butler Susan G. 
Published: April 2013

Objectives/HypothesisTo assess the effects of a typical otolaryngologic dose of 1 mL of 4% lidocaine on penetration aspiration scale scores and participant discomfort during flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing.Study DesignA prospective pilot study.MethodsTwenty healthy participants consumed 12 swallows consisting of graduated volumes of milk, water, pudding, and cracker in anesthetized and nonanesthetized conditions. Each participant was randomly selected to begin with the anesthetized or nonanesthetized condition. Each participant returned within 7 days to repeat the study in the other condition. Digital recordings of their evaluations were scored via the penetration‐aspiration scale in a blinded fashion. Participants recorded their discomfort and tolerance of each flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing.ResultsThe anesthetized condition yielded significantly worse swallowing function (P = .001) than the nonanesthetized condition. The nonanesthetized condition yielded greater discomfort and pain during the procedure (P = .006, .018), greater pain during insertion and removal of the endoscope (P = .002, .003) and less overall tolerance (P = .016) than the anesthetized condition.ConclusionsA typical otolaryngologic anesthetic dose of 1 mL of 4% lidocaine during flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing predisposed healthy young adults to higher penetration aspiration scale scores (less safe swallowing) than the nonanesthetized condition; however, the anesthetic reduced discomfort and provided better overall tolerance. Future studies need to evaluate the effects of lower doses of lidocaine (0.2 and 0.5 mL) on swallowing function and comfort.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 2012
ZnIIBisterpyridine Metallopolymers: Improved Processability by the Introduction of Polymeric Side Chains
Authors: Wild Andreas , Teichler Anke , von der Ehe Christian , Winter Andreas , Hager Martin D. , Yao Bing , Zhang Baohua , Xie Zhiyuan , Wong Wai‐Yeung , Schubert Ulrich S. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractIntroducing well‐defined polymeric side chains to bisterpyridine coordination polymers enables the synthesis of materials with tailor‐made optical and mechanical properties. The polymers are introduced either by a copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (grafting‐onto) or an atom transfer radical polymerization (polymerization‐from) method. The resulting metallopolymers exhibit improved solubility in common organic solvents and can, therefore, be inkjet‐printed from chlorinated benzene solutions. The photophysical properties of the so‐produced homogeneous films are investigated and a proof‐of‐principle polymer light‐emitting device can be constructed.
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On the tangential Cauchy‐Fueter operators on nondegenerate quadratic hypersurfaces in \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\begin{document}\pagestyle{empty}${\mathbb {H}^2}$\end{document}
Authors: Wang Wei 
Published: April 2013

AbstractOn quadratic hypersurfaces in \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\begin{document}\pagestyle{empty}$\mathbb {H}^2$\end{document}, we find the explicit forms of tangential Cauchy‐Fueter operators and associated tangential Laplacians □b. Then by using the Fourier transformation on the associated nilpotent Lie groups of step two, we construct the relative fundamental solutions to the tangential Laplacians and Szegö kernels on the nondegenerate quadratic hypersurfaces. It is different from the complex case that the quaternionic tangential structures on the nondegenerate quadratic hypersurfaces in \documentclass{article}\usepackage{amssymb}\begin{document}\pagestyle{empty}$\mathbb {H}^2$\end{document} cannot be reduced to one standard model and the non‐homogeneous tangential Cauchy‐Fueter equations are solvable even in many convex cases.
Pathological gambling in Parkinson's disease: Subthalamic oscillations during economics decisions
Authors: Rosa Manuela , Fumagalli Manuela , Giannicola Gaia , Marceglia Sara , Lucchiari Claudio , Servello Domenico , Franzini Angelo , Pacchetti Claudio , Romito Luigi , Albanese Alberto , Porta Mauro , Pravettoni Gabriella , Priori Alberto 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACTPathological gambling develops in up to 8% of patients with Parkinson's disease. Although the pathophysiology of gambling remains unclear, several findings argue for a dysfunction in the basal ganglia circuits. To clarify the role of the subthalamic nucleus in pathological gambling, we studied its activity during economics decisions. We analyzed local field potentials recorded from deep brain stimulation electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus while parkinsonian patients with (n = 8) and without (n = 9) pathological gambling engaged in an economics decision‐making task comprising conflictual trials (involving possible risk‐taking) and non conflictual trials. In all parkinsonian patients, subthalamic low frequencies (2–12 Hz) increased during economics decisions. Whereas, in patients without gambling, low‐frequency oscillations exhibited a similar pattern during conflictual and non conflictual stimuli, in those with gambling, low‐frequency activity increased significantly more during conflictual than during non conflictual stimuli. The specific low‐frequency oscillatory pattern recorded in patients with Parkinson's disease who gamble could reflect a subthalamic dysfunction that makes their decisional threshold highly sensitive to risky options. When parkinsonian patients process stimuli related to an economics task, low‐frequency subthalamic activity increases. This task‐related change suggests that the cognitive‐affective system that drives economics decisional processes includes the subthalamic nucleus. The specific subthalamic neuronal activity during conflictual decisions in patients with pathological gambling supports the idea that the subthalamic nucleus is involved in behavioral strategies and in the pathophysiology of gambling. © 2013 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Elektrische TopDrive AC‐Motoren und Umrichter für die Öl‐ und Gasindustrie
Authors: von Ehrenstein Christian 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBohranlagen für die Öl‐ und Gasindustrie werden im stark zunehmenden Maß mit so genannten elektrischen TopDrives und zugehöriger Umrichtertechnik ausgestattet. TopDrives sind für die Drehbewegung des Bohrgestänges verantwortlich und somit eine der Hauptkomponenten einer Bohranlage. Elektrische TopDrives zeichnen sich durch eine deutlich gesteigerte Servicefreundlichkeit, durch geringe Stillstands‐Zeiten und durch eine hohe Effizienz aufgrund von Umrichtertechnik in Kombination mit intelligenter Software aus.AC TopDrive motors for oil‐ and gas industry. Drilling rigs for the oil and gas industry are increasingly being fitted with electric topdrives. Topdrives are responsible for turning the drill string and are thus a key component of a drilling rig. Electric topdrives are characterised by clearly improved service friendliness, shorter stoppage times and high efficiency due to the use of variable frequency drive technology in combination with intelligent software.