bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender differences in psychological morbidity and treatment in intensive care survivors - a cohort study
Authors: Schandl Anna , Bottai Matteo , Hellgren Elisabeth , Sundin Örjan , Sackey Peter 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Introduction
Many hospitals have initiated follow-up to facilitate rehabilitation after critical illness and intensive care, although the efficacy of such an intervention is uncertain. Studies in trauma research indicate significant differences in psychological reactions to traumatic events between men and women. Our aim, in a quasi-experimental design, was to compare psychological morbidity and treatment effects between men and women enrolled in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up programme (follow-up group) and ICU patients not offered such follow-up (control group).

Methods
Men and women treated more than four days in the ICU in 2006, before ICU follow-up started, were compared with men and women treated in 2007 and 2008, when all patients with an ICU stay of more than four days were offered ICU follow-up at 3, 6 and 12 months post-ICU. Fourteen months after ICU discharge, psychological problems were measured with Impact of Event Scale (IES) for posttraumatic stress and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety and depression.

Results
Women with no follow-up reported significantly higher IES scores than men. Women in the follow-up group reported significantly lower IES scores compared to women in the control group, both in crude analysis and after adjusting for significant confounders/predictors (age, ICU length of stay and previous psychological problems). Furthermore, the 75th percentile for IES and HADS-Depression scores (high scores and degree of symptoms of psychological problems) in women in the follow-up group was lower than in those without follow-up (IES: -17.4 p, P <.01, HADS-depression: -4.9 p, P <.05). For men, no significant differences were found between the no follow-up and the follow-up group.

Conclusion
Psychological problems after critical illness and intensive care appear to be more common in women than in men. A multidisciplinary ICU follow-up may reduce the incidence of long-term symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression for women.
Transthoracic Echocardiography with Doppler Tissue Imaging predicts weaning failure from mechanical ventilation: evolution of the left ventricle relaxation rate during a spontaneous breathing trial is the key factor in weaning outcome
Authors: Moschietto Sébastien , Doyen Denis , Grech Ludovic , Dellamonica Jean , Hyvernat Hervé , Bernardin Gilles 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Introduction
There is growing evidence to suggest that transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) should be used to identify the cardiac origin of respiratory weaning failure. The aims of our study were: first, to evaluate the ability of transthoracic echocardiography, with mitral Doppler inflow E velocity to annular tissue Doppler Ea wave velocity (E/Ea) ratio measurement, to predict weaning failure from mechanical ventilation in patients, including those with atrial fibrillation; and second, to determine whether the depressed left ejection fraction and/or diastolic dysfunction participate in weaning outcome.

Methods
The sample included patients on mechanical ventilation for over 48 hours. A complete echocardiography was performed just before the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) and 10 minutes after starting the SBT. Systolic dysfunction was defined by a left ventricle ejection fraction under 50% and relaxation impairment by a protodiastolic annulus mitral velocity Ea under or equal to 8 cm/second.

Results
A total of 68 patients were included. Twenty failed the weaning process and the other 48 patients succeeded. Before the SBT, the E/Ea ratio was higher in the failed group than in the successful group. The E/Ea measured during the SBT was also higher in the failed group. The cut-off value, obtained from receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, to predict weaning failure gave an E/Ea ratio during the SBT of 14.5 with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 95.8%. The left ventricular ejection fraction did not differ between the two groups whereas Ea was lower in the failed group. Ea increased during SBT in the successful group while no change occurred in the failed group.

Conclusions
Measurement of the E/Ea ratio with TTE could predict weaning failure. Diastolic dysfunction with relaxation impairment is strongly associated with weaning failure. Moreover, the impossibility of enhancing the left ventricle relaxation rate during the SBT seems to be the key factor of weaning failure. In contrast, the systolic dysfunction was not associated with weaning outcome.
Evaluation of a new pocket echoscopic device for focused cardiac ultrasonography in an emergency setting
Authors: Biais Matthieu , Carrié Cédric , Delaunay François , Morel Nicolas , Revel Philippe , Janvier Gérard 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Introduction
In the emergency setting, focused cardiac ultrasound has become a fundamental tool for diagnostic, initial emergency treatment and triage decisions. A new ultra-miniaturized pocket ultrasound device (PUD) may be suited to this specific setting. Therefore, we aimed to compare the diagnostic ability of an ultra-miniaturized ultrasound device (Vscan™, GE Healthcare, Wauwatosa, WI) and of a conventional high-quality echocardiography system (Vivid S5™, GE Healthcare) for a cardiac focused ultrasonography in patients admitted to the emergency department.

Methods
During 4 months, patients admitted to our emergency department and requiring transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were included in this single-center, prospective and observational study. Patients underwent TTE using a PUD and a conventional echocardiography system. Each examination was performed independently by a physician experienced in echocardiography, unaware of the results found by the alternative device. During the focused cardiac echocardiography, the following parameters were assessed: global cardiac systolic function, identification of ventricular enlargement or hypertrophy, assessment for pericardial effusion and estimation of the size and the respiratory changes of the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter.

Results
One hundred fifty-one (151) patients were analyzed. With the tested PUD, the image quality was sufficient to perform focused cardiac ultrasonography in all patients. Examination using PUD adequately qualified with a very good agreement global left ventricular systolic dysfunction (κ = 0.87; 95%CI: 0.76-0.97), severe right ventricular dilation (κ = 0.87; 95%CI: 0.71-1.00), inferior vena cava dilation (κ = 0.90; 95%CI: 0.80-1.00), respiratory-induced variations in inferior vena cava size in spontaneous breathing (κ = 0.84; 95%CI: 0.71-0.98), pericardial effusion (κ = 0.75; 95%CI: 0.55-0.95) and compressive pericardial effusion (κ = 1.00; 95%CI: 1.00-1.00).

Conclusions
In an emergency setting, this new ultraportable echoscope (PUD) was reliable for the real-time detection of focused cardiac abnormalities.
Serum metabolomic profile as a means to distinguish stage of colorectal cancer
Authors: Farshidfar Farshad , Weljie Aalim M , Kopciuk Karen , Buie W Don , MacLean Anthony , Dixon Elijah , Sutherland Francis R , Molckovsky Andrea , Vogel Hans J , Bathe Oliver F 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Background
Presently, colorectal cancer (CRC) is staged preoperatively by radiographic tests, and postoperatively by pathological evaluation of available surgical specimens. However, present staging methods do not accurately identify occult metastases. This has a direct effect on clinical management. Early identification of metastases isolated to the liver may enable surgical resection, whereas more disseminated disease may be best treated with palliative chemotherapy.

Methods
Sera from 103 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma treated at the same tertiary cancer center were analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Metabolic profiling was done using both supervised pattern recognition and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (O-PLS-DA) of the most significant metabolites, which enables comparison of the whole sample spectrum between groups. The metabolomic profiles generated from each platform were compared between the following groups: locoregional CRC (N = 42); liver-only metastases (N = 45); and extrahepatic metastases (N = 25).

Results
The serum metabolomic profile associated with locoregional CRC was distinct from that associated with liver-only metastases, based on 1H NMR spectroscopy (P = 5.10 × 10-7) and GC-MS (P = 1.79 × 10-7). Similarly, the serum metabolomic profile differed significantly between patients with liver-only metastases and with extrahepatic metastases. The change in metabolomic profile was most markedly demonstrated on GC-MS (P = 4.75 × 10-5).

Conclusions
In CRC, the serum metabolomic profile changes markedly with metastasis, and site of disease also appears to affect the pattern of circulating metabolites. This novel observation may have clinical utility in enhancing staging accuracy and selecting patients for surgical or medical management. Additional studies are required to determine the sensitivity of this approach to detect subtle or occult metastatic disease.
Approximating the Nonlinear Newsvendor and Single-Item Stochastic Lot-Sizing Problems When Data Is Given by an Oracle
Authors: Halman Nir , Orlin James B. , Simchi-Levi David 
Published: May 2012

The single-item stochastic lot-sizing problem is to find an inventory replenishment policy in the presence of discrete stochastic demands under periodic review and finite time horizon. A closely related problem is the single-period newsvendor model. It is well known that the newsvendor problem admits a closed formula for the optimal order quantity whenever the revenue and salvage values are linear increasing functions and the procurement (ordering) cost is fixed plus linear. The optimal policy for the single-item lot-sizing model is also well known under similar assumptions. In this paper we show that the classical (single-period) newsvendor model with fixed plus linear ordering cost cannot be approximated to any degree of accuracy when either the demand distribution or the cost functions are given by an oracle. We provide a fully polynomial time approximation scheme for the nonlinear single-item stochastic lot-sizing problem, when demand distribution is given by an oracle, procurement costs are provided as nondecreasing oracles, holding/backlogging/disposal costs are linear, and lead time is positive. Similar results exist for the nonlinear newsvendor problem. These approximation schemes are designed by extending the technique of K-approximation sets and functions.
Optimising fast track care for proximal femoral fracture patients using modified early warning score
Authors: Ollivere B , Rollins K , Brankin R , Wood M , Brammar TJ , Wimhurst J 
Published: May 2012

INTRODUCTION The care for patients with a proximal femoral fracture has been dramatically overhauled with the introduction of ‘fast track’ protocols and the British Orthopaedic Association guidance in 2007. Fast track pathways focus on streamlining patient flow through the emergency department where the guidance addresses standards of care. We prospectively examined the impact these protocols have on patient care and propose an alternative ‘streamed care’ pathway to provide improved medical care within existing resource constraints. METHODS Data surrounding the treatment of 156 consecutive patients managed at 4 centres were collated prospectively. Management of patients with a traditional fast track protocol allowed 17% of patients to leave the emergency department with undiagnosed serious medical pathology and 32% with suboptimal fluid resuscitation. A streamed care pathway based on the modified early warning score was developed and employed for 48 further patients as an alternative to the traditional fast track system. RESULTS The streamed care pathway improved initial care significantly by treating patients according to their physiological parameters on admission. Targeted medical reviews on admission instead of the following day reduced the rates of undiagnosed medical pathology to 2% (p=0.0068) and inadequate fluid resuscitation to 11% (p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a streamed care pathway can allow protocol driven improvement to initial care for patients with a proximal femoral fracture and results in improved access to initial specialist medical care.
Curtain gastroplasty as an option in high risk emergency hiatus hernia repair
Authors: Pollard JS , Lewis CJ 
Published: May 2012

Introduction We describe a novel surgical technique used in the case of an 86-year-old Caucasian man with multiple comorbidities who presented with upper intestinal obstruction caused by a large paraoesophageal hiatus hernia and concurrent urinary sepsis. Methods The technique, which minimises both operative time and surgical trauma in this situation, uses the fundus of the stomach in a modified Dor anterior fundoplication as a gastric fundoplasty to close the defect. The total operative time was 70 minutes. Results The patient’s recovery was complicated by a lower respiratory tract infection but he was discharged 14 days after surgery with a premorbid oral intake and activity level. Conclusions We believe this curtain gastroplasty technique represents another surgical option to reduce operative time and trauma in a subgroup of high risk patients presenting with life threatening complications of a large hiatus hernia who have limited physiological reserve and evidence of current ongoing sepsis.
Experiences of disabled artists doing art in a community art centre
Authors: Reid Denise , Anderson Ellen 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT
How adults with disabilities and health conditions experience creating art in a community art centre was explored in this qualitative study. Areas of interest included the influence of place on art making and art making on personal well-being. Eleven adults who regularly engaged in their own art at the Creative Spirit Art centre in Toronto, Canada were interviewed. Interviews were recorded and analysed thematically. Major themes were found: ‘presence in art’; ‘a culture for expression’; and ‘personal benefits’. Participants described how they were present with their art, which emphasized a sense of awareness while they were creating their art. They described how the relationship between the environment and personal energies influenced their art and sense of being valued and respected as artists. The findings from this study contribute to the power that art making in an enabling, supportive community setting as a valued activity influences identity, mindful occupational engagement and the well-being of individuals with disability and health conditions.
Mediating memory: Strategies of interaction in public art and memorials
Authors: Björgvinsson Erling , Hansen Anders Høg 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT
This article addresses how a selection of participatory art and memorial projects have engaged with public memory and interaction. The intention is to explore the tension between the artists’ strategies and the actual lifespan and use of the artworks by their audiences. The authors interviewed the artists Esther Shalev-Gerz, Alfredo Jaar and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer (during 2008 and 2009) and examined specific works. In addition, one of the literally ‘groundbreaking’ works of process art by Robert Smithson, Partially Buried Woodshed, was included in the analysis of cases that have provoked interesting social or collective memory debates and community interaction around public art.
Broadband Rotational Spectroscopy for Molecular Structure and Dynamics Studies
Authors: Schnell Melanie 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Recent technological advances enabled the development of a new broadband Fourier transform microwave spectrometer in 2006. Since then, more than 15 broadband spectrometers have become operational worldwide and have also been extended to the millimeter wave and the terahertz frequency range. In the experiment, the microwave frequency is linearly swept within a short chirp covering up to 12 GHz so far. This chirped pulse efficiently polarizes the molecular sample at all frequencies lying within this frequency range. Fourier transformation of the molecular response from the time domain to the frequency domain gives the broadband rotational spectrum. This new instrument removes one of the major disadvantages of cavity-based Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy, which has been its slowness. As a consequence, rotational spectroscopy is now concentrating on even larger and more complex molecules. Also double-resonance experiments are now facilitated. Furthermore, the broadband technique opens the door towards new directions of rotational spectroscopy, i.e., towards dynamics studies such as the investigation of isomerization reactions.
Studying Li Dynamics in a Gas-Phase Synthesized Amorphous Oxide by NMR and Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Epp Viktor , Brünig Christian , Binnewies Michael , Heitjans Paul , Wilkening Martin 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Li diffusion parameters of a structurally disordered Li-Al-Si-oxide prepared by gas-phase synthesis were complementarily investigated by both time-domain NMR techniques and impedance spectroscopy. The first include 7Li NMR spin-lattice relaxation (SLR) measurements in the laboratory as well as in the rotating frame of reference. An analysis of variable-temperature NMR line widths point to an activation energy Ea
of approximately 0.6 eV. The value is confirmed by rotating-frame SLR NMR data recorded at approximately 11 kHz. Above room temperature the low-temperature flank of a diffusion-induced rate peak shows up which can be approximated by an Arrhenius law yielding Ea=0.56(1) eV. This is in very good agreement with the result obtained from 7Li spin-alignment echo (SAE) NMR being sensitive to even slower Li dynamics. For comparison, dc-conductivity measurements, probing long-range motions, yield Ea=0.8 eV. Interestingly, low-temperature SAE NMR decay rates point to localized Li motions being characterized with a very small activation energy of only 0.09 eV.
Binding Mechanisms of As(III) on Activated Carbon/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites: A potential method for arsenic removal from water
Authors: Özlem Kocabaş Z. , Açıksöz Burcu , Yürüm Yuda 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTNovel nanocomposite materials where titanium dioxide nanoparticles were inserted into the walls of a macroporous activated carbon were produced and their efficiency for the removal of As(III) from water was compared with pure activated carbon and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. The nanocomposites were synthesized with different molar ratios by using sol-gel method and were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The nanocomposite system showed excellent capability for the removal of As(III) ions from water by considering feasibility, efficiency and cost. The maximum As(III) removal percentages were ∼4.7% at pH 8 for activated carbon, ∼38 % for titanium dioxide at pH 6, and ∼98 % at pH 7 for activated carbon/titanium dioxide (AC/TiO2) nanocomposite, respectively. According to kinetic sorption data, the higher regression coefficients (R2) were obtained after the application of pseudo-second order to the experimental adsorption data for all adsorbent materials. The equilibrium data were modeled with the help of Langmuir and Freundlich equations. Overall, the data are well fitted with both the models, with a slight advantage for Langmuir model. The maximum arsenic uptake (qmax) value computed from slope of the linearized Langmuir plot was 26.62 mg/g for the adsorption of As(III) onto AC/TiO2 nanocomposite.
Delivery of Transforming Growth Factor-β3 Plasmid in a Collagen Gel Inhibits Cranial Suture Fusion in Rats
Authors: Premaraj Sundaralingam , Moursi Amr M. 
Published: May 2012

Objective Studies described in this paper were designed to test the hypothesis that an increase in nonviral, plasmid-encoded Tgf-β3 production, localized to the rat posterior frontal suture, prevents programmed suture fusion. Design We developed a gene delivery system based on a dense collagen gel to deliver nonviral plasmids that encode for Tgf-β3. Studies were performed to test the ability of this system to rescue rat cranial suture fusion in vitro and in vivo. Immunohistochemical studies were conducted to characterize the possible mechanisms by which increased production and presence of Tgf-β3 protein interferes with suture fusion. Results Posterior frontal sutures in the Tgf-β3 plasmid–treated group exhibited 77% to 85% less bony bridging than the collagen control and untreated groups after 15 days in culture. In animals treated with Tgf-β3 plasmid or Tgf-β3 protein, there was a significant reduction in suture fusion in the middle region of the posterior frontal sutures when compared with control groups. In this region the Tgf-β3 plasmid–treated group revealed 70% to 75% less bony bridging than control groups in vivo. Conclusions Collagen gel can be formulated to provide release of nonviral plasmid DNA that results in cell transfection and elevated Tgf-β3 protein production. Tgf-β3 is an important regulator of suture fusion, and an increase in plasmid-encoded Tgf-β3 protein is effective in inhibiting programmed suture fusion in rats.
A New Approach to Calculate Pressure Drop for Three-Phase Flow in Pipe
Authors: Ling Kegang , Zhang He , Han Guoqing , Shen Zheng 
Published: May 2012

AbstractMultiphase flow in pipe has been intensively investigated since the oneset of oil and gas transportation by pipelines. As flow assurance problems keep arising in recent years, pipeline design solutions are desired for multi-phase flow system. The algorithms have widely guided the design of stream transportation from offshore well head to onshore terminal or platform. Operators would always seek cutting platform number or shut-in producing marginal field whose reserves cannot justify the construction cost. An accurate design of multiphase flow pipeline system is by all means demanded.Traditional studies focus on gas-oil two-phase flow by deriving empirical or semi-empirical correlations that fit the experimental data. This study investigates a gas–oil–water three-phase pipe flow system. Starting from the momentum and mass conservation equations, force balance, and interaction relationships between different phases, we developed analytical solutions to estimate the pressure drop for stratified flow regime. This general approach can be applied to any gas-oil-water flowing systems. It provides a solid base for nodal analysis, pressure drop calculation for multiphase flow, artificial lift evaluation, etc. to help design and optimize production system. This work can be particularly useful for steady-state distance transportation.