bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intrathecal bupivacaine or levobupivacaine: Which should be used for elderly patients?
Authors: Gulec Demet , Karsli Bilge , Ertugrul Fatma , Bigat Zekiye , Kayacan Nurten 
Published: March 2014

Objectives To compare two intrathecal anaesthetics, bupivacaine and levobupivacaine, for their effects on motor and sensory blockade and haemodynamics in patients aged ≥65 years undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate (TUR-P) or transurethral resection of the urinary bladder (TUR-M). Methods Patients scheduled to undergo TUR-P or TUR-M were randomized to receive either 3 ml (15 mg) 0.5% isobaric levobupivacaine (group L) or 3 ml (15 mg) of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine (group B) for spinal anaesthesia. The onset time, maximum level and time to reach the maximum level of sensory and motor blockade were recorded. Changes to haemodynamic parameters were also recorded. Results The study randomized 100 patients: 57 to group L and 43 to group B. Levobupivacaine did not cause any significant changes in haemodynamic parameters, including systolic blood pressure, and showed a similar sensory block onset time compared with bupivacaine, but it had a significantly longer motor block onset time compared with bupivacaine. Conclusion These current findings suggest that levobupivacaine can be used as a substitute for bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia in elderly patients ≥65 years of age undergoing elective TUR-P or TUR-M operations.
Recombinant luteinizing hormone priming in early follicular phase for women undergoing in vitro fertilization: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hu Linli , Bu Zhiqin , Wang Keyan , Sun Yingpu 
Published: March 2014

Objectives To investigate the effect of recombinant human luteinizing hormone supplementation (rLH priming) during the early follicular phase on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. Methods In order to evaluate available evidence regarding the efficacy of rLH priming in IVF/ICSI procedures, a systematic review and meta-analysis was preformed. Searches were conducted on MEDLINE®, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database of Clinical Trials without language limitation, but were restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Results Three RCTs including 346 patients were included in this meta-analysis, which demonstrated that rLH priming did not increase ongoing pregnancy rate. Although less recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) was required and the oestradiol level was higher on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration in the rLH priming group, the numbers of oocytes retrieved and embryos produced were comparable between patients treated with rLH priming and those treated with rFSH alone. Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis has demonstrated that at present there is insufficient evidence that patients undergoing IVF/ICSI may benefit from rLH priming during the early follicular phase.
Methylene blue-assisted technique for harvesting lymph nodes after radical surgery for gastric cancer: a prospective randomized phase III study
Authors: Aoyama Toru , Yoshikawa Takaki , Morita Satoshi , Shirai Junya , Fujikawa Hirohito , Iwasaki Kenichi , Hayashi Tsutomu , Ogata Takashi , Cho Haruhiko , Yukawa Norio , Oshima Takashi , Rino Yasushi , Masuda Munetaka , Tsuburaya Akira 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
This randomized Phase III trial will evaluate whether the methylene blue-assisted technique is efficient for harvesting lymph nodes after radical surgery for gastric cancer.

Methods/design
Patients that undergo distal or total gastrectomy with radical nodal dissection will be randomly assigned to Group A: the standard group, the lymph nodes (LNs) will be harvested from the fresh specimen immediately after surgery, or Group B: the methylene blue-assisted group, where the LNs will be harvested from specimens fixed with 10% buffered formalin with methylene blue for 48 hours after surgery. The primary endpoint is the ratio of the number of the harvested LNs per time (minute). The secondary endpoint is the number of harvested LNs. A 25% reduction in the ratio of harvested lymph-node/time (minute) was determined to be necessary for this test treatment, considering the balance between the cost and benefit. Retrospective data was used to estimate the ratio of the number of the harvested LNs per time (minute) to be 40/30 minutes in Group A. A 25% risk reduction and a rate of 40/22.5 minutes is expected in Group B. Therefore, the sample size required ensuring a two-sided alpha error of 5% and statistical power of 80% is 52 patients, with 26 patients per arm. The number of patients to be accrued was set at 60 in total, due to the likelihood of enrolling ineligible patients.

Trial registration

UMIN000008624
Self-reported stressors among patients with Exhaustion Disorder: an exploratory study of patient records
Authors: Hasselberg Karin , Jonsdottir Ingibjörg H , Ellbin Susanne , Skagert Katrin 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
Several researchers imply that both work-related and non-work-related stress exposure are likely to contribute to stress-related mental illness. Yet empirical studies investigating both domains seem to be limited, particularly in a clinical population. The purpose of this study was to a) explore which stressors (non-work and work-related) are reported as important for the onset of illness by patients seeking medical care for stress-related exhaustion and b) explore the prevalence of each stressor and examine whether the pattern differs between men and women.

Methods
This is an exploratory mixed method study, comprising patients at a specialist outpatient stress clinic. Information from medical records of 20 patients was initially used in a first qualitative step to construct the instrument, using a combination of a conventional content analysis and a directed content analysis. In the second phase patient records from 50 men and 50 women were selected and coded in accordance with the coding instrument. Frequency statistics were calculated for all stressors.

Results
A total of 24 categories of stressors (11 related to work and 13 related to private life) were identified in the first qualitative step. A median of four stressors, usually both work and non-work-related was reported by the patients. The most common stressors were 1) quantitative demands at work, 2) private relational conflicts and 3) emotional demands at work.

Conclusions
Work demands are, by far, the most prevalent stressor, followed by relational problems in private life. The pattern was similar for women and men, with a slight difference in the distribution between work and non-work stressors. Men and women also show similar patterns when comparing the occurrence of each stressor. Slight differences were seen, in particular with regard to managerial responsibility that was reported by 6% of the women compared to 36% of the men. One important practical implication of this study is that patients with stress-related exhaustion often have a long period of impaired ability at work. Successful prevention at the workplace is thus of great importance. However, it is equally important to discuss how society can support individuals such as single parents or couples with relational conflicts.
Basis approach to estimate the instantaneous frequencies in multicomponent AM-FM signals
Authors: Sebghati Mohammadali , Amindavar Hamidreza , Ritcey James A 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
In this paper, an analytical approach to estimate the instantaneous frequencies of a multicomponent signal is presented. A non-stationary signal composed of oscillation modes or resonances is described by a multicomponent AM-FM model. The proposed method has two main stages. At first, the signal is decomposed into its oscillation components. Afterwards, the instantaneous frequency of each component is estimated. The decomposition stage is performed through the basis expansion exploiting orthogonal rational functions in the complex plane. Orthogonal rational bases are generalized to expand linear time-varying systems. To decompose the non-stationary signal, its equivalent time-varying system is sought. The time-varying poles of this system are required to construct appropriate basis functions. An adaptive data segmentation algorithm is provided for this purpose. The effect of noise is scrutinized analytically and evaluated experimentally to verify the robustness of the new method. The performance of this method in extraction of embedded instantaneous frequencies is asserted by simulations on both synthetic data and real-world audio signal.
Cortical activation change induced by neuromuscular electrical stimulation during hand movements: a functional NIRS study
Authors: Jang Sung Ho , Jang Woo Hyuk , Chang Pyung Hun , Lee Seung-Hyun , Jin Sang-Hyun , Kim Young Gi , Yeo Sang Seok 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Objectives
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been used in the field of rehabilitation for a long time. Previous studies on NMES have focused on the peripheral effect, in contrast, relatively little is known about the effect on the cerebral cortex. In the current study, we attempted to investigate the change of cortical activation pattern induced by NMES during execution of hand movements in normal subjects, using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Methods
Twelve healthy normal subjects were randomly assigned to the NMES group (six subjects) and the sham group (six subjects). We measured oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) in six regions of interest (ROI) during pre-NMES and post-NMES motor phase; the left dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, premotor cortex, primary sensory-motor cortex (SM1), hand somatotopic area of SM1, and posterior parietal cortex. Between the pre-NMES and the post-NMES motor phases, real or sham NMES was applied on finger and wrist extensors of all subjects during a period of 5 minutes.

Results
In all groups, during the pre-NMES motor phase, the HbO value in the hand somatotopic area of the left SM1 was higher than those of other ROIs. In the NMES group, during the post-NMES motor phase, HbO value variation in the hand somatotopic area of the left SM1 showed a significant decrease, compared with that of sham group (p < 0.05). However, in the sham group, similar aspect of results in HbO values of all ROIs was observed between pre-NMES and post-NMES motor phases (p > 0.05).

Conclusions
Results of this study showed that NMES induced a decrease of cortical activation during execution of hand movements. This finding appears to indicate that application of NMES can increase the efficiency of the cerebral cortex during execution of motor tasks.
The cultural significance of wild mushrooms in San Mateo Huexoyucan, Tlaxcala, Mexico
Authors: Alonso-Aguilar Luis Enrique , Montoya Adriana , Kong Alejandro , Estrada-Torres Arturo , Garibay-Orijel Roberto 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
We performed an ethnomycological study in a community in Tlaxcala, Central Mexico to identify the most important species of wild mushrooms growing in an oak forest, their significance criteria, and to validate the Cultural Significance Index (CSI).

Methods
Thirty-three mestizo individuals were randomly selected in San Mateo Huexoyucan and were asked seven questions based on criteria established by the CSI. Among the 49 mushroom species collected in the oak forest and open areas, 20 species were mentioned most often and were analyzed in more detail. Ordination and grouping techniques were used to determine the relationship between the cultural significance of the mushroom species, according to a perceived abundance index, frequency of use index, taste score appreciation index, multifunctional food index, knowledge transmission index, and health index.

Results
The mushrooms with highest CSI values were Agaricus campestris, Ramaria spp., Amanita aff. basii, Russula spp., Ustilago maydis, and Boletus variipes. These species were characterized by their good taste and were considered very nutritional. The species with the lowest cultural significance included Russula mexicana, Lycoperdon perlatum, and Strobylomyces strobilaceus. The ordination and grouping analyses identified four groups of mushrooms by their significance to the people of Huexoyucan. The most important variables that explained the grouping were the taste score appreciation index, health index, the knowledge transmission index, and the frequency of use index.

Conclusions

A. aff. basii and A. campestris were the most significant wild mushrooms to the people of San Mateo. The diversity of the Russula species and the variety of Amanita and Ramaria species used by these people was outstanding. Environments outside the forest also produced useful resources. The CSI used in Oaxaca was useful for determining the cultural significance of mushrooms in SMH, Tlaxcala. This list of mushrooms can be used in conservation proposals for the Quercus forests in the area.
Visualization of hospital cleanliness in three Japanese hospitals with a tendency toward long-term care
Authors: Watanabe Reina , Shimoda Tomoko , Yano Rika , Hayashi Yasuhiro , Nakamura Shinji , Matsuo Junji , Yamaguchi Hiroyuki 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
Hospital cleanliness in hospitals with a tendency toward long-term care in Japan remains unevaluated. We therefore visualized hospital cleanliness in Japan over a 2-month period by two distinct popular methods: ATP bioluminescence (ATP method) and the standard stamp agar method (stamp method).

Methods
The surfaces of 752 sites within nurse and patient areas in three hospitals located in a central area of Sapporo, Japan were evaluated by the ATP and stamp methods, and each surface was sampled 8 times in 2 months. These areas were located in different ward units (Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics and Gynecology). Detection limits for the ATP and stamp methods were determined by spike experiments with a diluted bacterial solution and a wipe test on student tables not in use during winter vacation, respectively. Values were expressed as the fold change over the detection limit, and a sample with a value higher than the detection limit by either method was defined as positive.

Results
The detection limits were determined to be 127 relative light units (RLU) per 100 cm2 for the ATP method and 5.3 colony-forming units (CFU) per 10 cm2 for the stamp method. The positive frequency of the ATP and stamp methods was 59.8% (450/752) and 47.7% (359/752), respectively, although no significant difference in the positive frequency among the hospitals was seen. Both methods revealed the presence of a wide range of organic contamination spread via hand touching, including microbial contamination, with a preponderance on the entrance floor and in patient rooms. Interestingly, the data of both methods indicated considerable variability regardless of daily visual assessment with usual wiping, and positive surfaces were irregularly seen. Nurse areas were relatively cleaner than patient areas. Finally, there was no significant correlation between the number of patients or medical personnel in the hospital and organic or microbiological contamination.

Conclusions
Ongoing daily hospital cleanliness is not sufficient in Japanese hospitals with a tendency toward long-term care.
New extended (G’/G)-expansion method to solve nonlinear evolution equation: the (3 + 1)-dimensional potential-YTSF equation
Authors: Roshid Harun-Or- , Akbar M Ali , Alam Md Nur , Hoque Md Fazlul , Rahman Nizhum 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
In this article, a new extended (G′/G) -expansion method has been proposed for constructing more general exact traveling wave solutions of nonlinear evolution equations with the aid of symbolic computation. In order to illustrate the validity and effectiveness of the method, we pick the (3 + 1)-dimensional potential-YTSF equation. As a result, abundant new and more general exact solutions have been achieved of this equation. It has been shown that the proposed method provides a powerful mathematical tool for solving nonlinear wave equations in applied mathematics, engineering and mathematical physics.
Anatomy of wintertime ozone associated with oil and natural gas extraction activity in Wyoming and Utah
Authors: Oltmans Samuel , Schnell Russell , Johnson Bryan , Pétron Gabrielle , Mefford Thomas , Neely Ryan 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Winter maximum daily 8-hour average (MDA8) ozone concentrations in the Upper Green River Basin, Wyoming (UGRBWY) and the Uintah Basin, Utah (UBUT) have frequently exceeded 100 ppb in January, February and March, in the past few years. Such levels are well above the U.S. air quality standard of 75 ppb. In these two remote basins in the Rockies, local ozone precursor emissions result from intense oil and gas extraction activities that release methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) to the atmosphere. These emissions become trapped beneath a stable and shallow (∼50–200 m) boundary layer maintained in low wind conditions. Wintertime surface ozone formation conditions are more likely in the UBUT than in the UGRBWY as the topography of the UBUT is an enclosed basin whereas the UGRBWY is open on its southern perimeter thus allowing for more air turnover. With snow-covered ground, high ozone events regularly begin in mid-December and last into early March in the UBUT whereas they usually do not begin in earnest until about a month later in the UGRBWY and may persist until mid-March. Winters without snow cover and the accompanying cold pool meteorological conditions do not experience high ozone events in either basin. For nine years with ozone observations in the UGRBWY (2005–2013) and four in the UBUT (2010–2013), all years with adequate (≥6 inches) and persistent snow cover, experienced days with ozone values ≥75 ppb except in 2012 in the UGRBWY when persistent high wind (&gt;5 m/s) conditions were prevalent. Year to year differences in the occurrences of high ozone episodes appear to be driven primarily by differing meteorological conditions rather than by variations in ozone precursor levels.
Tangent cones and regularity of real hypersurfaces
Authors: Ghomi Mohammad , Howard Ralph 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

We characterize

𝒞
1

$\mathcal {C}^1$

embedded hypersurfaces of

𝐑
n

$\mathbf {R}^n$

as the only locally closed sets with continuously varying flat tangent cones whose
measure-theoretic-multiplicity is at most

m
<
3
/
2

$m&lt;3/2$

. It follows then that any (topological) hypersurface which has flat tangent cones and is supported everywhere by balls of uniform radius is

𝒞
1

$\mathcal {C}^1$

. In the real analytic case the same conclusion holds under the weakened hypothesis that each tangent cone be a hypersurface. In particular, any convex real analytic hypersurface

X
⊂

𝐑
n

$X\subset \mathbf {R}^n$

is

𝒞
1

$\mathcal {C}^1$

. Furthermore, if X is real algebraic, strictly convex, and unbounded, then its projective closure is a

𝒞
1

$\mathcal {C}^1$

hypersurface as well, which shows that X is the graph of a function defined over an entire hyperplane. Finally we show that the last property is a special feature of real algebraic sets, in the sense that it does not hold in the real analytic category.
Effects of drawing process on the structure and tensile properties of textile-grade PAN fiber and its carbon fiber
Authors: Lee Hwayoung , Lee Lo-Woon , Lee Seung-Wook , Joh Han-Ik , Jo Seong-Mu , Lee Sungho 
Published: March 2014

AbstractCarbon fibers (CFs) were prepared using low-cost, textile-grade polyacrylonitrile fibers, which were 200% to 400% drawn in a hot water bath at 90°C or/and in a tubular furnace at 180°C. X-ray diffractograms confirmed that the drawing process led to higher crystallinity and molecular orientation. These fibers were stabilized in a convection oven at 25–255°C for 390 min. After stabilization, carbonization was performed to obtain carbon fibers. The tensile strength of CFs without drawing was ∼0.8 GPa; however, CFs with 200% and 200% drawing in a hot water bath at 90°C and in a tubular furnace at 180°C, respectively, showed a tensile strength of ∼1.7 GPa. These results suggest that the drawing process of precursor fibers affected the tensile properties of the resulting CFs significantly.
Pharmacological evaluation of the analgesic and anxiolytic activities of Jobelyn® in mice
Authors: Umukoro Solomon , Eduviere Anthony T. , Ogunbiyi Rukayat , Adeoluwa Olusegun A. 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background: This study presents the results of the pharmacological evaluation of the analgesic and anxiolytic potentials of Jobelyn®, a potent antioxidant African herbal formulation, in mice. The analgesic effect was assessed utilizing acetic acid-induced writhing, tail immersion and formalin-induced paw licking pain models. The anxiolytic activity was evaluated using elevated-plus maze (EPM) and light/dark box.

Methods: Mice (5/group) were treated with JB (10–200 mg/kg, p.o.) 1 h before the tests were carried out. In the writhing test, the number of abdominal constrictions was recorded for a period of 30 min after induction of nociception with 0.6% acetic acid, i.p. In the tail immersion test, the latency to tail withdrawal responses to noxious heat was measured. The duration of paw licking (s) was measured as an index of nociception in the formalin test. In the anxiolytic test, the patterns of transition in the two arms of the EPM and in the light/dark box were assessed.

Results: JB (10–200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited the inflammatory pain produced by acetic acid as evidenced by decreased number of abdominal constrictions in comparison with the control. It also shows higher potency in suppressing the inflammatory pain associated with the second phase of the formalin test. However, JB did not exhibit anxiolytic properties nor modify the pain behavior in the tail immersion test.

Conclusions: The results obtained from this study suggest that Jobelyn® might be efficacious against inflammatory pain and further support its recommendation for the management of pain with inflammation as the underlying factor.
Properties of high temperature resistance and salt tolerance drilling fluids incorporating acrylamide/2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid/N-vinylpyrrolidone/dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride quadripolymer as fluid loss additives
Authors: Su Junlin , Chu Qi , Ren Mao 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
A quadripolymer of acrylamide (AM), 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (AMPS), N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) and dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC) was synthesized by solution free radical polymerization, and characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. The rheological and filtrate properties of saturated brine-based fluid with AM/AMPS/NVP/DMDAAC quadripolymer were investigated before and after thermal aging tests. The apparent viscosity (AV), plastic viscosity (PV) and yield point (YP) increased and the filtrate volume decreased with increase in the concentration of AM/AMPS/NVP/DMDAAC quadripolymer after thermal aging test at 180°C for 16 h. The filtrate volume could be controlled when the concentration of AM/AMPS/NVP/DMDAAC quadripolymer reached 2.0% under these conditions. The filtrate volume of saturated brine-based fluid could be controlled effectively at a thermal aging temperature not exceeding 200°C and was smaller than that of the AM/AMPS/NVP terpolymer. The AM/AMPS/NVP/DMDAAC quadripolymer was better at improving the quality of a filter cake than the AM/AMPS/NVP terpolymer. The drilling fluid containing the AM/AMPS/NVP/DMDAAC quadripolymer had an excellent tolerance to salt and high temperature.