bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Self‐Belief on Laparoscopic Performance of Novices and Experienced Surgeons
Authors: Maschuw K. , Osei‐Agyemang T. , Weyers P. , Danila R. , Bin Dayne K. , Rothmund M. , Hassan I. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackgroundIn many professions, nontechnical aspects such as motivation or coping with stress are known to influence performance, success, and outcome. These qualities are assessed and trained in novices for quality and safety reasons. This study explored the impact of self‐belief of surgeons on laparoscopic performance using a virtual reality simulator (LapSim®).MethodsEighteen inexperienced surgical residents (with less than ten laparoscopic procedures performed) and 22 advanced residents (with more than 50 laparoscopic procedures performed) filled out a ten‐item questionnaire used for the assessment of the individual sense of general self‐efficacy (GSE). Afterward the participants were asked to perform three defined tasks on the LapSim, each at two different levels of difficulty. The tasks consisted of coordination, dissection, and application of clips. To assess laparoscopic performance, the total time to complete the tasks, economy of motion, and damage parameters were analyzed and correlated with the GSE score by means of Bravis‐Pearson correlation analysis.ResultsIn novices, high GSE scores correlated with more errors and poor economy of motion, while in advanced residents, laparoscopic performance was independent of the level of assessed self‐efficacy.ConclusionIn a small sample, high self‐belief does not predict success. In novices it negatively correlates with laparoscopic skills, while in advanced residents it is independent of laparoscopic performance. Thus, training aspects seem to be of greater importance for laparoscopic skills. Nevertheless, nontechnical aspects like self‐belief, motivation, stress‐coping strategies, judgment, decision‐making, and leadership should be included in the surgical curriculum.
Clinical, Radiological, and Manometric Profile in 145 Patients with Untreated Achalasia
Authors: Fisichella Piero M. , Raz Dan , Palazzo Francesco , Niponmick Ian , Patti Marco G. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackgroundEsophageal achalasia is characterized by the absence of esophageal peristalsis and by a dysfunctional lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Descriptions of clinical, radiological, and manometric findings in patients with achalasia usually have been based on small numbers of patients. This study was designed to determine in patients with untreated achalasia: (1) clinical presentation; (2) how often a diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was erroneously made based on the presence of heartburn; (3) manometric profile; (4) relationship between chest pain and the manometric finding of vigorous achalasia.MethodsBetween 1990 and 2004, a diagnosis of esophageal achalasia was established in 145 patients. None of them had been previously treated (no previous endoscopic or surgical treatment). We evaluated the demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as the results of the endoscopy, barium swallow, esophageal manometry, and ambulatory pH monitoring. We also compared the clinical and the manometric profile of patients with classic and patients with vigorous achalasia.ResultsMost patients with untreated achalasia had dysphagia (94%). Regurgitation was present in 76% and heartburn in 52%. Chest pain (41%) and weight loss (35%) were less common. Acid‐suppressing medications had been prescribed to 65 patients (45%) who complained of heartburn on the assumption that GERD was present. The LES was hypertensive in 43% of patients only. There was no significant difference in the prevalence, severity, and duration of chest pain in patients with classic and with vigorous achalasia.ConclusionsThese results show that in patients with untreated achalasia: (1) dysphagia was the most frequent complaint, but regurgitation and heartburn were frequently present; (2) a diagnosis of GERD based on the presence of heartburn was highly unreliable; (3) the LES was hypertensive in less than half of patients; and (4) the prevalence, severity, and duration of chest pain did not correlate with the manometric finding of vigorous achalasia.
Acute Care Surgeon South American Model
Authors: Poggetti Renato Sergio 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackgroundIn the World Health Organization book by Murray and Lopez (The Global Burden of Disease), the authors make the point that there are major regional differences across the world for death from injury. In the European market economies, injuries accounted for 6% of all deaths, of which the majority were the result of road traffic accidents. In stark contrast, in Latin America and the Caribbean, injuries account for 12–13% of all deaths, and most of these are the result of violence. An estimated 30% of all male deaths are from external causes, and road traffic accidents are the number two cause of death. Within South American countries, trauma is the second most common cause of death in Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Brazil. In other South American countries, it is the third or fourth most common cause of death. If one examines the Disability Adjusted Life Years, South America is the third highest in the world. Death from injury primarily affects people in the middle‐ and low‐income group. Traffic accidents and suicide are the main causes of trauma in the high‐income population. South America is made up of developing and poor countries that have trauma as a very important cause of death and disability.MethodsThe author has reviewed information on injury from the World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, and Brazilian Health Ministry. In addition, a search of injury was performed through MEDLINE.Results and ConclusionsThe results of this review show that trauma is a major public health problem in South America. At the present time, there is a lack of statewide system development. In addition, there are difficulties in training surgeons to cope with these problems.
Changes in plant species diversity along a chronosequence of vegetation restoration in the humid evergreen broad‐leaved forest in the Rainy Zone of West China
Authors: Zhu Wanze , Cheng Song , Cai Xiaohu , He Fei , Wang Jinxi 
Published: June 2008

AbstractPlant species diversity has been recognized as one of the vital attributes for assessing vegetation restoration. Changes in the diversity may be related to different stages of succession. In this study, 54 sites of humid, evergreen, broad‐leaved forest were selected in the Rainy Zone of West China. A chronosequence of the sites was used to study the successive patterns of the diversity in the forest that had undergone natural regeneration for 5 to 350 years and to test the hypothesis that the diversity is maximized in mid‐succession. Data were collected simultaneously at different stages of succession, and four α‐diversity indices (species richness, Margalef index, Shannon‐Wiener index, Pielou Evenness index) and two β‐diversity indices (Whittaker index, Sørensen's index) were calculated for each stratum in each plot. A total of 394 vascular plant species were recorded. From the β‐diversity indices, the forest succession may be divided into the early‐successional stage (before 50 years), mid‐successional stage (from 50 to 300 years), and late‐successional stage (after 300 years). In this community, the species diversity and richness were found to be the greatest at the mid‐successional stage, followed by the late‐ and early‐successional stages. The results of regression analysis indicated that the richness and Margalef index peaked around the 175th and 165th year, respectively. Shannon‐Wiener index values also appeared to follow an approximately humped pattern of succession and were maximal around the 100th year. However, the species evenness did not show any significant relationship with successional age. Our results demonstrate (1) forest restoration is a long‐term process and the formation of climax forest requires at least 300 years and (2) the forest has a strong capacity for restoration. Our results also suggestLindera limprichitiiandMachilus pingiias ideal tree species for afforestation because of their wide niche.
The Influences of H2Plasma Pretreatment on the Growth of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotubes by Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Jian Sheng-Rui , Chen Yuan-Tsung , Wang Chih-Feng , Wen Hua-Chiang , Chiu Wei-Ming , Yang Chu-Shou 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
The effects of H2flow rate during plasma pretreatment on synthesizing the multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by using the microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition are investigated in this study. A H2and CH4gas mixture with a 9:1 ratio was used as a precursor for the synthesis of MWCNT on Ni-coated TaN/Si(100) substrates. The structure and composition of Ni catalyst nanoparticles were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The present findings showed that denser Ni catalyst nanoparticles and more vertically aligned MWCNTs could be effectively achieved at higher flow rates. From Raman results, we found that the intensity ratio of G and D bands (I
D/I
G) decreases with an increasing flow rate. In addition, TEM results suggest that H2plasma pretreatment can effectively reduce the amorphous carbon and carbonaceous particles. As a result, the pretreatment plays a crucial role in modifying the obtained MWCNTs structures.
The single nucleotide polymorphism upstream of insulin-induced gene 2 (INSIG2) is associated with the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia, but not with obesity, in Japanese American women
Authors: Oki Kenji , Yamane Kiminori , Kamei Nozomu , Asao Takako , Awaya Tomokazu , Kohno Nobuoki 
Published: June 2008

Insulin-induced gene 2 (insig-2) protein is known to play important roles in cholesterol and TAG metabolism bothin vivoandin vitro. One particularly interesting single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs7566605, located 10 kb upstream ofINSIG2was reported to have the strongest association with obesity among 86 604 SNP, while the relationship with dyslipidaemia is uncertain. Eight hundred and eighty-five Japanese Americans (347 men and 538 women) and 378 Japanese (182 men and 196 women) were enrolled, and the rs7566605 SNP, which is consistent with either G or C, was determined. We investigated the association between the rs7566605 SNP and the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia or hypertriacylglycerolaemia, or obesity parameters, as assessed by BMI, waist girth and percentage body fat. There were no significant differences in BMI, waist girth and percentage body fat according to the genotype in each of the four groups, which was divided by population and sex. The prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia was significantly different between the genotypes in Japanese American female subjects (GG, 62·2 %; GC, 57·1 %; CC, 42·1 %;P = 0·021), but not in the other subjects. In Japanese American women, the subjects with the CC genotype had a 0·43-fold decreased risk (95 % CI 0·24, 0·80) for hypercholesterolaemia compared with the GG genotype after adjustment for age, percentage body fat, smoking status and hormone replacement therapy. The CC genotype of the rs7566605 SNP is suggested to be a protective genetic factor against the progression of hypercholesterolaemia on a high-fat diet, especially in Japanese female subjects.
Hypolipidaemic effect of maize starch with different amylose content in ovariectomized rats depends on intake amount of resistant starch
Authors: Liu Xiong , Ogawa Hiroshi , Kishida Taro , Ebihara Kiyoshi 
Published: June 2008

The effect of amylose content on digestibility of starch in the small intestine and on the concentration of plasma lipid were studied in ileorectostomized rats and in ovariectomized rats, respectively. Seven kinds of starch with different amylose content (0, 27, 54, 62, 76, 79, 86 %) were used as test starch, which contained 0·4, 5·6, 37·1, 40·2, 45·6, 36·9 and 36·1 % resistant starch (RS), respectively. Rats were fed one of test diets containing 30 % test starch with different amylose content for 14 d in ileorectostomized and for 21 d in ovariectomized rats. Food intake was not significantly different among the groups. In ileorectostomized rats, the small intestinal starch digestibility decreased with increasing intakes of amylose and RS. In ovariectomized rats, body weight gain was lower on the higher amylose maize starch diets. The concentrations of plasma TAG and cholesterol decreased with increasing intake of RS. The concentrations of liver total lipids and TAG decreased with increasing intake of RS, but that of liver cholesterol did not. There was significant positive correlation between the level of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c mRNA and concentration of liver TAG. Total SCFA amount in the caecum increased logarithmically with increasing dry weight of caecal contents. The amount of bile acids in the small intestinal content and the excretions of bile acids and neutral steroids in faeces increased with increasing RS intake. These results show that starch rich in RS is more effective in preventing ovarian hormone deficiency-induced hyperlipidaemia.
Laying hens can convert high doses of folic acid added to the feed into natural folates in eggs providing a novel source of food folate
Authors: Hoey Leane , McNulty Helene , McCann Elizabeth M. E. , McCracken Kelvin J. , Scott John M. , Marc Barbara Blaznik , Molloy Anne M. , Graham Ciaren , Pentieva Kristina 
Published: June 2008

There are few good sources of natural food folates apart from green leafy vegetables and these may have a limited potential to increase folate status because of substantial losses that can occur during cooking. Fortified foods can overcome this but are controversial because of safety concerns regarding chronic exposure to high-dose folic acid (FA; the synthetic form). The aim of the present study was to develop eggs with an enriched natural folate content and minimal unmetabolised FA. Forty-eight, 30-week-old laying hens were randomised to receive the basal feed (formulated to provide 1 mg folate/kg feed) to which had been added one of the following FA levels (0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 mg/kg feed). Total folate was measured in eggs collected throughout the 12-week study period and the FA content estimated at 12 weeks. Results showed that the maximal egg folate content was achieved by adding 16 mg FA/kg feed. At this optimal dose, the total folate content per egg was 75 μg (compared with 32 μg in a regular egg) of which FA represented at most 10 %, a level which would probably be converted into natural folates by humans after ingestion. The results demonstrate that it is possible to use synthetic FA at high doses to produce novel animal foods enriched with natural folates in a cost-efficient process. Such foods may be particularly relevant to European populations without access to FA fortification and therefore dependent on natural food folate sources for the primary prevention of folate-related disease.
A mechanism for self-generated magnetic fields in the interaction of ultra-intense laser pulses with thin plasma targets
Authors: ABUDUREXITI A. , OKADA T. , ISHIKAWA S. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIn the study of the interaction of ultra-intense laser pulses with thin plasma targets there appears self-generated magnetic fields in the plasma target. The strong magnetic fields were directly measured in the plasma target, and were attributed to a mechanism of non-parallel electron temperature and density gradients. These magnetic fields can become strong enough to significantly affect the plasma transport. The underlying mechanism of the self-generated magnetic fields in the ultra-intense laser–plasma interactions is presented by using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation.
Decision making and problem solving in adolescents who deliberately self-harm
Authors: Oldershaw A. , Grima E. , Jollant F. , Richards C. , Simic M. , Taylor L. , Schmidt U. 
Published: June 2008

BackgroundHealthy adolescents, and adults who engage in reward-driven, risky behaviours, demonstrate poor decision-making ability. Decision making in deliberate self-harm (DSH), a reward-driven, high-risk behaviour, has received little attention. This study assessed decision making and problem solving in adolescents with current or past SH.MethodDecision making and problem solving were assessed using the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Means–Ends Problem-Solving Procedure (MEPS) respectively in 133 adolescents (57 healthy and 22 depressed controls with no SH history and 54 with SH history). A second analysis separated the SH group into current (n=30) and past (n=24) SH.ResultsThe collective performance of adolescents with SH history did not differ from depressed or healthy adolescents on the IGT. However, current self-harming adolescents had a trend towards more high-risk choices (p=0.06) than those with previous SH history and were the only group not to significantly improve over time, persisting with high-risk strategy throughout. Those who no longer self-harmed learnt to use a low-risk strategy similar to healthy and depressed controls. Recency of last SH episode correlated with IGT performance. Depressed participants performed well on the IGT but poorly on the MEPS. By contrast, both collective and divided SH groups had comparable MEPS scores to healthy controls, all performing better than depressed participants.ConclusionPoor decision making is present in adolescents who currently self-harm but not in those with previous history; improvement in decision-making skills may therefore be linked to cessation of self-harm. Depressed adolescents who do and do not self-harm may have distinct characteristics.
Continuity of care in mental health: understanding and measuring a complex phenomenon
Authors: Burns T. , Catty J. , White S. , Clement S. , Ellis G. , Jones I. R. , Lissouba P. , McLaren S. , Rose D. , Wykes T. 
Published: June 2008

BackgroundContinuity of care is considered by patients and clinicians an essential feature of good quality care in long-term disorders, yet there is general agreement that it is a complex concept. Most policies emphasize it and encourage systems to promote it. Despite this, there is no accepted definition or measure against which to test policies or interventions designed to improve continuity. We aimed to operationalize a multi-axial model of continuity of care and to use factor analysis to determine its validity for severe mental illness.MethodA multi-axial model of continuity of care comprising eight facets was operationalized for quantitative data collection from mental health service users using 32 variables. Of these variables, 22 were subsequently entered into a factor analysis as independent components, using data from a clinical population considered to require long-term consistent care.ResultsFactor analysis produced seven independent continuity factors accounting for 62.5% of the total variance. These factors,Experience and Relationship, Regularity,Meeting Needs,Consolidation,Managed Transitions,Care CoordinationandSupported Living, were close but not identical to the original theoretical model.ConclusionsWe confirmed that continuity of care is multi-factorial. Our seven factors are intuitively meaningful and appear to work in mental health. These factors should be used as a starting-point in research into the determinants and outcomes of continuity of care in long-term disorders.
The absorption theorem for affable equivalence relations
Authors: GIORDANO THIERRY , MATUI HIROKI , PUTNAM IAN F. , SKAU CHRISTIAN F. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe prove a result about extension of a minimal AF-equivalence relation R on the Cantor set X, the extension being ‘small’ in the sense that we modify R on a thin closed subset Y of X. We show that the resulting extended equivalence relation S is orbit equivalent to the original R, and so, in particular, S is affable. Even in the simplest case—when Y is a finite set—this result is highly non-trivial. The result itself—called the absorption theorem—is a powerful and crucial tool for the study of the orbit structure of minimal ℤn-actions on the Cantor set, see Remark 4.8. The absorption theorem is a significant generalization of the main theorem proved in Giordano et al [Affable equivalence relations and orbit structure of Cantor dynamical systems. Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys.24 (2004), 441–475] . However, we shall need a few key results from the above paper in order to prove the absorption theorem.
Cyclicity of period annuli and principalization of Bautin ideals
Authors: GAVRILOV LUBOMIR 
Published: June 2008

AbstractLet Π be an open period annulus of a plane analytic vector field X0. We prove that the maximal number of limit cycles which bifurcate from Π under a given multi-parameter analytic deformation Xλ of X0 is the same as in an appropriate one-parameter analytic deformation Xλ(ε), provided that this cyclicity is finite. Along the same lines, we also give a bound for the cyclicity of homoclinic saddle loops.
Sectional-hyperbolic systems
Authors: METZGER R. , MORALES C. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe introduce a class of vector fields onn-manifolds containing the hyperbolic systems, the singular-hyperbolic systems on 3-manifolds, the multidimensional Lorenz attractors and the robust transitive singular sets in Liet al[Robust transitive singular sets via approach of an extended linear Poincaré flow.Discrete Contin. Dyn. Syst.13(2) (2005), 239–269]. We prove that the closed orbits of a system in such a class are hyperbolic in a persistent way, a property which is false for higher-dimensional singular-hyperbolic systems. We also prove that the singularities in the robust transitive sets in Liet alare similar to those in the multidimensional Lorenz attractor. Our results will give a partial negative answer to Problem 9.26 in Bonattiet al[Dynamics Beyond Uniform Hyperbolicity. A Global Geometric and Probabilistic Perspective (Encyclopaedia of Mathematical Sciences, 102. Mathematical Physics, III). Springer, Berlin, 2005].
What Happens When Verbal Threat Information and Vicarious Learning Combine?
Authors: Askew Chris , Kessock-Philip Hannah , Field Andy P. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractRecent research has shown that the verbal information and vicarious learning pathways to fear create long term fear cognitions and can create cognitive biases and avoidance in children. However, it is unlikely that these pathways operate in isolation in the aetiology of childhood fear and the interaction between these pathways is untested. Three preliminary experiments are reported that explore the combined effect of verbal threat information and vicarious learning on self-reported fear beliefs in 7–9-year-old children. Results showed that prior negative information significantly facilitated the effect of negative vicarious learning on children's fear beliefs (Experiment 1); however, there was not a significant combined effect of verbal threat information and vicarious learning when they the information was presented during (Experiment 2) or after (Experiment 3) vicarious learning. These results support the idea that verbal information can affect CS-US associations formed in subsequent vicarious learning events, but contradict the proposal that it can change fear beliefs already acquired through vicarious learning by changing how a person evaluates the vicarious learning episode.