bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid Preparation of Fluorescent 9‐Anthrylmethyl Esters for Fatty Acid Analysis of Small Amount of Triacylglycerols
Authors: Ando Yasuhiro , Haba Yusuke , Soma Kazutaka , Hiraoka Yuko , Takatsu Tetsuya 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThis paper proposes a one‐step method for preparation of fluorescent 9‐anthrylmethyl esters from triacylglycerols (TAG) ranging in amount from 0.1 to 5 μg. It involves base‐catalyzed transesterification using potassium 9‐anthracenemethoxide, prepared by proton exchange between 9‐anthracenemethanol and potassium tert‐butoxide. Transesterification for 10 min at room temperature gave the fatty acid 9‐anthrylmethyl esters in nearly maximal yields (82–85%). The products could be analyzed by reversed‐phase HPLC without purification. Excellent linear relationships were observed for standard curves of 10–250 pmol of TAG standards (16:0, 19:0, 18:2 and 22:6), and differences in the slopes were less than 5% among the standards. Almost consistent compositions of the esters were observed for the products formed from 0.5 to 5 μg or less of fish oils TAG, and they were similar to those obtained by HPLC of ordinary multi‐step synthesis products and by GLC of methyl esters. The present method is a great improvement of derivatization time, and is powerful for fatty acid analysis of small amounts of natural TAG.
On photolytic synthesis of sulphur-bearing organic molecules by reacting S or S2 with the hydrogen end-capped polyyne C10H2
Authors: Heymann Dieter 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe photolysis of dilute solutions of octacyclosulphur or hexacyclosulphur in n-hexane with 253.6 nm UV radiation produces S and possibly S2. The ‘ring-opening’ yields of these sulphur molecules range from 0.2 to 0.7. When the hydrogen end-capped polyyne C10H2 is irradiated in n-hexane, it transforms into unidentified products with a quantum yield of 3×10−5. When octacyclosulphur is added to the solution, the yield rises to 7×10−3. The putative sulphur-bearing product(s) could not be identified. It is suggested that sulphur-bearing molecules might be formed in astronomical settings by reactions of carbon molecules having triple or double C—C bonds with photolytically produced S and/or S2.
The effects of electromyographic activity on the accuracy of the Narcotrend® monitor compared with the Bispectral Index during combined anaesthesia
Authors: Panousis P. , Heller A. R. , Burghardt M. , Bleyl J. U. , Koch T. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe Narcotrend® is a monitor system for the assessment of depth of anaesthesia. The objective of this trial was to investigate the susceptibility of the Narcotrend to electromyographic (EMG) activity when compared with the Bispectral Index (BIS). We enrolled 33 patients undergoing major urological procedures under combined anaesthesia (thoracic epidural analgesia and general anaesthesia). Anaesthetic depth was assessed simultaneously by the BIS XP and Narcotrend. The intended anaesthetic depth ranged between 40 and 55 in the BIS and between D2 and D0 in the Narcotrend. BIS, but not Narcotrend, values correlated significantly (p < 0.0001) with EMG. BIS values between 70 and 80 occurred intermittently above an EMG activity of 35 dB, whereas the Narcotrend and the clinical signs remained unchanged during the period of elevated BIS values. None of the patients reported intra‐operative awareness. Increased electromyographic activity does not affect Narcotrend values. Under combined anaesthesia, the Narcotrend monitor is more reliable when compared with the BIS regarding susceptibility to increased EMG activity.
The effect of dilution and prolonged injection time on fentanyl‐induced coughing*
Authors: Yu H. , Yang X.‐Y. , Zhang X. , Li Q. , Zhu T. , Wang Y. , Liu B. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThis study was designed to evaluate the effect of diluting fentanyl 50 μg.ml−1 to 25 or 10 μg.ml−1 with 0.9% saline and prolonged injection time on fentanyl‐induced cough. Two hundred patients requiring general anaesthesia were randomly allocated into four groups: 50 μg.ml−1 (Group I), 25 μg.ml−1 (Group II), 10 μg.ml−1 (Group III) or 10 μg.ml−1 combined with prolonged injection (Group IV). Fentanyl 3 μg.kg−1 was administered within 5 s in Groups I, II, and III, or over 30 s in Group IV. Occurrence of cough was significantly reduced in Group IV (2% vs 32%, 16% and 12% in Groups I, II and III, respectively, p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the severity of coughing between the four groups (p > 0.05). We conclude that dilution of fentanyl to 10 μg.ml−1 with 0.9% saline combined with a prolonged injection time eliminates fentanyl‐induced cough.
A randomised placebo‐controlled trial of the effects of midazolam premedication on children's postoperative cognition
Authors: Millar K. , Asbury A. J. , Bowman A. W. , Hosey M. T. , Martin K. , Musiello T. , Welbury R. R. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThis randomised, placebo‐controlled study assessed the effects of midazolam premedication on children's postoperative cognition and physical morbidity. In all, 179 children aged 5–10 years were randomly assigned to receive buccal midazolam (0.2 mg.kg−1) or placebo before sevoflurane‐nitrous oxide anaesthesia for multiple dental extractions. They performed tests of choice reaction time, attention, psychomotor co‐ordination and memory pre‐operatively (baseline), before discharge and at 48 h. The reaction time of both groups was significantly slower before discharge compared to baseline, with the midazolam group being significantly slower than placebo. Psychomotor co‐ordination was also significantly impaired postoperatively after midazolam. Performance on both tests had recovered to baseline by 48 h. Midazolam was also associated with significant anterograde amnesia, both postoperatively and at 48 h, for information presented in the interval between premedication and surgery. The results show significant short‐term impairment of children's cognitive function and amnesia enduring for 48 h after low‐dose midazolam premedication.
BIS and Entropy in the elderly
Authors: Arnold G. , Kluger M. , Voss L. , Sleigh J. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe interaction of many poorly defined, physiological, pharmacological, and pathological factors make titration of general anaesthesia in the elderly difficult. There may be a potential clinical benefit using the processed electroencephalogram (EEG) to monitor hypnotic level in this population. We prospectively studied 16 patients aged over 65 years having hip fractures repaired under general anaesthesia by experienced anaesthetists blinded to Bispectral Index (BISXP) and Entropy values. Pre‐induction EEG indices did not correlate with age or mini‐mental state examination (MMSE). During maintenance of anaesthesia, BISXP and Response Entropy (RE) values were within the recommended range of 40–60, 45% and 32% of the total time, respectively. BISXP and Response Entropy (RE) values were above 60 for 11% and 13% of the total time, respectively, and below 40 for 44% and 55% of the total time, respectively. BISXP correlated well with RE in 12 patients, but in the other four patients there was a difference of more than 20 points between BISXP and RE.
Evaluation of the Basic Airway Model, a novel mask ventilation training manikin*
Authors: Sudhir G. , Stacey M. R. W. , Hampson M. , Mecklenburgh J. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe Basic Airway Model is an airway manikin designed for training in mask ventilation. We investigated the ability of the Basic Airway Model to provide varying levels of difficulty for mask ventilation. Volunteers with three levels of experience (novice, intermediate and expert) attempted to ventilate the manikin at three levels of difficulty: easy, intermediate and difficult. The distribution of frequencies of successful ventilation by different groups at the three levels of difficulty were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The median (IQR (range)) degree of difficulty was 3 (2–5 (1–7)), 4 (3–5.3 (2–7)) and 6 (5–7 (3–9)) for easy, intermediate and difficult settings, respectively. We conclude that the Basic Airway Model can provide different levels of difficulty for mask ventilation training.
A minimally invasive metabolic test with intramuscular injection of halothane 5 and 6 vol% to detect probands at risk for malignant hyperthermia*
Authors: Schuster F. , Gardill A. , Metterlein T. , Kranke P. , Roewer N. , Anetseder M. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryWe hypothesised that intramuscular halothane injection increases local Pco2 concentrations in malignant hyperthermia susceptible (MHS) but not in non‐susceptible (MHN) individuals. Pco2 probes with attached microtubing catheters for halothane injection were placed into the lateral vastus muscle of eight MHS and eight MHN probands. Following equilibration, a single bolus of 200 μl halothane 5 and 6 vol% was injected. Pco2 was measured spectrophotometrically. Baseline Pco2 concentrations were similar between groups. Maximum Pco2 and maximum rate of Pco2 increase was significantly enhanced by halothane 5 and 6 vol% in MHS compared to MHN probands. Systemic haemodynamic and metabolic parameters did not differ between both groups. Local halothane application induces a hypermetabolic reaction with a significant Pco2 increase in MHS compared to MHN probands, indicating a susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia. Intramuscular halothane injection with Pco2 measurement seems to be a suitable method for the development of a minimally invasive metabolic test to diagnose malignant hyperthermia susceptibility.
The concept of surgical operating list ‘efficiency’: a formula to describe the term
Authors: Pandit J. J. , Westbury S. , Pandit M. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryWhile numerous reports have sought ways of improving the efficiency of surgical operating lists, none has defined ‘efficiency’. We describe a formula that defines efficiency as incorporating three elements: maximising utilisation, minimising over‐running and minimising cancellations on a list. We applied this formula to hypothetical (but realistic) scenarios, and our formula yielded plausible descriptions of these. We also applied the formula to 16 consecutive elective surgical lists from three gynaecology teams (two at a university hospital and one at a non‐university hospital). Again, the formula gave useful insights into problems faced by the teams in improving their performance, and it also guided possible solutions. The formula confirmed that a team that schedules cases according to the predicted durations of the operations listed (i.e. the non‐university hospital team) suffered fewer cancellations (median 5% vs 8% and 13%) and fewer list over‐runs (6% vs 38% and 50%), and performed considerably more efficiently (90% vs 79% and 72%; p = 0.038) than teams that did not do so (i.e. those from the university hospital). We suggest that surgical list performance is more completely described by our formula for efficiency than it is by other conventional measures such as list utilisation or cancellation rate alone.
Absolute bioavailability of imidafenacin after oral administration to healthy subjects
Authors: Ohno Tomoya , Nakade Susumu , Nakayama Kazuki , Kitagawa Junsaku , Ueda Shinya , Miyabe Hiroyuki , Masuda Yuichi , Miyata Yasuyuki 
Published: August 2007

What is already known about this subject • The absolute bioavailability of imidafenacin in rats and dogs is 5.6% and 36.1%, respectively.• The pharmacokinetic profiles of imidafenacin after oral administration have been revealed.• Imidafenacin is primarily metabolized to metabolites by CYP3A4 and UGT1A4. What this study adds • The absolute bioavailability of imidafenacin in human is 57.8%.• The pharmacokinetic profiles of imidafenacin after intravenous administration are revealed.• The formation of metabolites in the plasma is caused mainly by first‐pass effects.Aims To investigate the absolute bioavailability of imidafenacin, a new muscarinic receptor antagonist, a single oral dose of 0.1 mg imidafenacin was compared with an intravenous (i.v.) infusion dose of 0.028 mg of the drug in healthy subjects.Methods Fourteen healthy male subjects, aged 21–45 years, received a single oral dose of 0.1 mg imidafenacin or an i.v. infusion dose of 0.028 mg imidafenacin over 15 min at two treatment sessions separated by a 1‐week wash‐out period. Plasma concentrations of imidafenacin and the major metabolites M‐2 and imidafenacin‐N‐glucuronide (N‐Glu) were determined. The urinary excretion of imidafenacin was also evaluated. Analytes in biological samples were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.Results The absolute oral bioavailability of imidafenacin was 57.8% (95% confidence interval 54.1, 61.4) with a total clearance of 29.5 ± 6.3 l h−1. The steady‐state volume of distribution was 122 ± 28 l, suggesting that imidafenacin distributes to tissues. Renal clearance after i.v. infusion was 3.44 ± 1.08 l h−1, demonstrating that renal clearance plays only a minor role in the elimination of imidafenacin. The ratio of AUCt of both M‐2 and N‐Glu to that of imidafenacin was reduced after i.v. infusion from that seen after oral administration, suggesting that M‐2 and N‐Glu in plasma after oral administration were generated primarily due to first‐pass metabolism. No serious adverse events were reported during the study.Conclusions The absolute mean oral bioavailability of imidafenacin was determined to be 57.8%. Imidafenacin was well tolerated following both oral administration and i.v. infusion.
Dexmedetomidine during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: is it neuroprotective? – A preliminary study
Authors: Sulemanji D. S. , Dönmez A. , Aldemir D. , Sezgin A. , Türkoglu S. 
Published: August 2007

Background:  In the present study, we aimed to determine whether during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery, dexmedetomidine has protective effects against cerebral ischemic injury.Method:  Twenty‐four patients, aged 50–70 years, undergoing CABG surgery were randomized into two groups of 12 patients each: those receiving dexmedetomidine (group D) and those not receiving it (group C). As basal blood samples from arterial and jugular bulb catheters were drawn, dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg bolus and infusion at a rate of 0.7 μg/kg/h) was administered to patients in group D. Arterial and jugular venous blood gas analyses, serum S‐100B protein (S‐100B), neuron‐specific enolase (NSE) and lactate measurements were performed after induction, 10 min after the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 1 min after declamping, at the end of CPB, at the end of the operation and 24 h after surgery. Mann–Whitney U‐ and Wilcoxon’s tests were used for statistical analyses.Results:  No significant between‐group differences were found regarding arterial and jugular venous pH, PO2, PCO2 and O2 saturations. S‐100B, NSE and lactate levels were also similar between groups D and C. During the post‐operative period, there were no clinically overt neurological complications in any patient.Conclusion:  Cerebral ischemia marker (S‐100B, NSE, lactate) patterns were as expected during CPB; however, there were no differences between the groups, which led us to believe that during CABG surgery dexmedetomidine has no neuroprotective effects. Future studies with larger populations are recommended to further establish the effects of this drug.
Immediate peri‐operative memory
Authors: Ghoneim M. M. , Block R. I. 
Published: August 2007

Background: Information about anterograde and retrograde amnesias in the immediate peri‐operative period is scarce. During this period, assessment of memory for real‐life events is also rare. We hypothesized that there would be both anterograde and retrograde amnesias and memory for peri‐operative events would be better than for verbal memory.Methods: We studied 40 patients who underwent general anesthesia and surgery and 19 control volunteers who were matched to the patients but did not have surgery. Patients completed the state anxiety part of the Spielberger State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory in the pre‐operative period. They were presented with three word lists in the holding area, the operating room before induction of anesthesia and the recovery room. Memory for the words was tested the next day by recall and recognition tests. Memory for events that happened on the day of surgery was tested by administering a questionnaire. The control subjects were tested similarly but did not complete the events questionnaire. Retrograde amnesia would be demonstrated by a decline in patients’ memory from the holding area to the operating room which exceeded any corresponding changes in controls; anterograde amnesia would be demonstrated by memory impairment of the patients in the recovery room, relative to controls.Results: Recall and recognition of words were significantly impaired in the recovery room with a decline from 12% in the holding area to zero% in the recovery room for recall and from 43% to 7% for recognition. The decline in memory from the holding area to the operating room was not significantly greater in patients than in controls, 80% vs. 56% for recall and 27% vs. 14% for recognition. There were no significant differences for recognition of events which happened in the three rooms.Conclusions: We were unable to detect retrograde amnesia. Patients’ memory for neutral stimuli in the recovery room was severely impaired. The events questionnaire proved to be insensitive.
How the parallel channels of the retina contribute to depth processing
Authors: Schiller Peter H. , Slocum Warren M. , Weiner Veronica S. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractReconstructing the third dimension in the visual scene from the two dimensional images that impinge on the retinal surface is one of the major tasks of the visual system. We have devised a visual display that makes it possible to study stereoscopic depth cues and motion parallax cues separately or in concert using rhesus macaques. By varying the spatial frequency of the display and its luminance and chrominance, it is possible to selectively activate channels that originate in the primate retina. Our results show that (i) the parasol system plays a central role in processing motion parallax cues; (ii) the midget system plays a central role in stereoscopic depth perception at high spatial frequencies, and (iii) red/green colour selective neurons can effectively process both cues but blue/yellow neurons cannot do so.
Hippocampal lesions halve immediate–early gene protein counts in retrosplenial cortex: distal dysfunctions in a spatial memory system
Authors: Albasser Mathieu M. , Poirier Guillaume L. , Warburton E. Clea , Aggleton John P. 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe present study examined whether hippocampal lesions disrupt retrosplenial cortex function. The immediate–early genesc‐fos and zif268 provided markers of cellular activity, and their levels were compared in different cytoarchitectonic subregions (dysgranular, granular a and granular b) and different layers (superficial or deep) within retrosplenial cortex. Experiments 1–3 examined the impact of hippocampal lesions on retrosplenial cortex function, with the variations in protocol (e.g. lesion method, rat strain, behaviour prior to gene activity measurement) testing the generality of the findings. Experiment 1 showed that radio‐frequency hippocampus lesions result in very striking losses of Fos and Zif268 activity in both superficial and deep laminae of all retrosplenial subregions. This pattern of results was repeated for Fos in experiments 2 and 3. Despite the loss of Fos and Zif268, there was no evidence of retrosplenial cortex atrophy as measured by Nissl counts (experiments 1–3) or NeuN‐positive cell counts (experiment 3). Likewise, there was little evidence of any overt changes in cellular size, shape or appearance. The specificity of these hippocampal lesion effects was confirmed in experiment 4 as entorhinal cortex lesions did not change retrosplenial Fos levels. These results provide strong support for the notion that the retrosplenial cortex is unusually sensitive to deafferentation from some of its inputs, so that hippocampal damage might produce permanent ‘covert pathology’ in the retrosplenial cortex. Such dysfunctions could contribute to the pattern of cognitive changes associated with hippocampal lesions and also help to explain the functional interdependency of these two structures.
Measuring the Effects of Generic Dairy Advertising in a Multi‐Market Equilibrium
Authors: Balagtas Joseph V. , Kim Sounghun 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWe develop a multi‐market equilibrium displacement model that allows demand linkages across downstream product markets, and supply linkages through the common use of a raw commodity as the key input. Applying the model to the dairy sector, we find that the effectiveness of producer‐funded advertising depends on the demand relationships across dairy product markets (cross‐price and cross‐advertising elasticities) as well as the reallocation of milk toward the advertised market. We show that the previous literature, which ignores the horizontal linkages highlighted here, tends to overstate the effectiveness of generic commodity promotion for dairy, and thus results in too much advertising.
When Should Uncertain Nonpoint Emissions Be Penalized in a Trading Program?
Authors: Hennessy David A. , Feng Hongli 
Published: August 2007

AbstractWhen nonpoint source pollution is stochastic and the damage function is convex, intuition might suggest it is more important to control a nonpoint pollution source than a point source. Earlier research has provided sufficient conditions such that the permit price for a unit of ex‐ante expected emissions should be higher than the permit price for a unit of certain emissions. Herein we provide a set of necessary and sufficient conditions such that this is the case. An approach to testing for the validity of the condition set is available, and has been applied to a related problem.
FORGIVENESS AND INTERPRETATION
Authors: Pettigrove Glen 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper explores the relationship between our interpretations of another's actions and our readiness to forgive. It begins by articulating an account of forgiveness drawn from the New Testament. It then employs the work of Schleiermacher, Dilthey, and Gadamer to investigate ways in which our interpretations of an act or agent can promote or prevent such forgiveness. It concludes with a discussion of some ethical restrictions that may pertain to the interpretation of actions or agents as opposed to utterances and a look at the significance of these restrictions for forgiveness‐promoting interpretation.
MODERN LIBERALISM AND PRIDE An Augustinian Perspective
Authors: Krom Michael P. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTIn “Toward an Augustinian Liberalism,” Paul Weithman argues that modern liberal institutions should be concerned with the political vice of pride as a threat to the neutral, legitimate use of public power that liberalism demands. By directing our attention to pride, Weithman attempts to provide an incentive to and foundation for an Augustinian liberalism that can counteract this threat. While Weithman is right to point to the centrality of pride in understanding the modern liberal tradition, an investigation of the early modern reflections on pride in politics reveals a deeper tension between Augustine and modern liberalism than Weithman's analysis acknowledges. This essay discusses this tension by focusing on Hobbes's account of pride and equality in the commonwealth, asking whether Hobbes can be understood as a thinker in the Augustinian political tradition. In order to provide a background on pride as a political vice, this essay contrasts Aristotelian magnanimity with Augustinian humility. Finally, Aquinas's attempt to reintroduce magnanimity into the Augustinian political tradition is considered as a more consistent development of Augustine's thought, thereby revealing more pointedly the tension between Augustine and modern liberalism. By way of conclusion, the possibility of deflating this tension is briefly addressed by considering Jean Bethke Elshtain's discussion of an Augustinian liberalism that does not rely upon a “secular” conception of human nature.