Examination of the adoption intention of new energy vehicles from the perspective of functional attributes and media richness.

Drawing on the theory of media richness, this paper aims to explore the impact of media richness on consumers' adoption intention through their perception of new energy vehicle (NEV) function attributes, and assess the moderation roles of brand familiarity and locus of control. A structural equation model is applied to analyze the data collected from 427 respondents. Empirical results demonstrate that consumers' perception of an electric attribute (i.

Conventional fluid management versus plethysmographic variability index-based goal directed fluid management in patients undergoing spine surgery in the prone position - a randomised control trial.

Introduction: The plethysmographic variability index (PVI) is a dynamic approach for assessing volume status. This study aims to compare conventional fluid management and PVI based goal-directed fluid management (GDFM) during elective spine surgery in the prone position.

Material And Methods: Sixty-six adult patients, ASA I-II, scheduled for elective lumbar spine procedures under general anaesthesia in the prone position were included.

Comparison between two mathematical methods to estimate arterial occlusion pressure and tourniquet effectiveness in lower limb surgery: a prospective, randomized, double blind, comparative study.

The effectiveness of two different methods for calculating the arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) to set tourniquet inflation pressures were assessed in patients underwent knee arthroscopy. Eighty patients were included in this study. Tourniquet inflation pressure was set by adding 20 mmHg of safety margin above the AOP value which was calculated by either the Tuncali et al.

The role of Gabapentin oral solution in decreasing desflurane associated emergence agitation and delirium in children after stabismus surgery, a prospective randomized double-blind study.

Background: Short acting inhalational anesthetic (Desflurane) produces emergence agitation (EA) in pediatrics with an incidence up to 80%. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of Gabapentin oral solution in attenuating desflurane associated EA in children after strabismus surgery under general anesthesia.

Methods: Seventy patients, 2-6 years old, scheduled for strabismus surgery were randomly allocated into two groups (35 each); Control group (c): received 5 ml of oral strawberry juice (placebo) and Gabapentin group (G) received 5 mg/Kg gabapentin oral solution in 5 ml strawberry juice, 1 h before anesthesia.

Enhanced hypothalamic-pituitary sensitivity to estrogen in premenopausal women with diminished ovarian reserve compared with older perimenopausal controls.

Objective: We have previously characterized the reproductive hormone profile in infertile women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) as being distinct from that seen in age-comparable healthy controls. Hypothesizing that DOR reflects accelerated reproductive aging, we herein compare urinary reproductive hormone dynamics between young women with DOR and a population of chronologically older perimenopausal controls.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, urinary levels of pituitary gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone) and metabolites of estrogen (estrone conjugate) and progesterone were assessed in daily morning urine samples collected in a spontaneous menstrual cycle in 8 infertile premenopausal women with DOR and in 11 perimenopausal controls.

Metformin does not improve the reproductive or metabolic profile in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

To determine whether metformin, when given to women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), promotes folliculogenesis by prompting a drop in free sex steroids resulting in a compensatory follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) rise, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial. Eight mid-reproductive age PCOS participants with mean obese body mass index (BMI) and normal glucose tolerance received 8 weeks of metformin, given in a step-up fashion to a maximum dose of 2000 mg daily or placebo with daily urine sampling, 4-6 weeks washout, and crossover to the remaining arm for 8 weeks. To confirm the effects of metformin on glucose and other metabolic markers, a hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic 3-dose clamp (physiologic: 30 mU/m(2) per minute, high: 400 mU/m(2) per minute) followed each treatment.

Low serum osteoprotegerin levels in premenopausal infertile women with low bone density: an association of relevance?

Objective: To evaluate if the levels of the central regulators of osteoclast activity, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator for nuclear factor kappaB-ligand (RANk-L), correlate with bone mineral density (BMD) parameters in premenopausal infertile women.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Academic infertility practice.

Onset of ovulation after menarche in girls: a longitudinal study.

Introduction: Hypothalamic-pituitary axis maturity has been believed to be the rate-limiting step in the development of ovulatory menstrual cycles. We hypothesized that, given current nutritional conditions, hypothalamic-pituitary axis maturation would be relatively rapid in menarcheal girls.

Methods: Daily urine and menstrual records were collected for 2 yr each from 10 girls aged 11-13 yr at study entry.

Factors affecting reproductive hormones in HIV-infected, substance-using middle-aged women.

Objective: To determine whether reproductive hormone levels are affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and drug use.

Design: HIV-infected and uninfected women (N=429), median age 45, were interviewed on menstrual frequency, demographic and psychosocial characteristics, and drug use behaviors. Serum was obtained on cycle days 1 to 5 in women reporting regular menses.

Assessment of the proliferative status of epithelial cell types in the endometrium of young and menopausal transition women.

Background: We determined protein and mRNA expressions of markers of normal human endometrial proliferation and hypothesized that dysregulation of the endometrial response to estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone would be observed in the older menopausal transition (MT) women compared with mid-reproductive age (MRA) controls.

Methods: Endometrial biopsies were prospectively obtained from MRA and MT non-randomized healthy volunteers during proliferative (+/- exogenous E(2)) and secretory (MRA only) menstrual cycle phases. mRNA and/or nuclear protein expressions of proliferative markers (MKI67, PCNA and MCM2), cell-cycle regulators (cyclins A1, E1 and D1 and cyclin dependent kinase Inhibitor B; CCNA1, CCNE1, CCND1 and CDKN1B) and sex-steroid receptors [estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR)] were assessed in endometrial lumen, gland and stroma.

Regulation of differentiation in CD5+ and conventional B cells. Sensitivity to LPS-induced differentiation and interferon-gamma-mediated inhibition of differentiation.

We have analyzed the response of conventional and CD5+ B cells to the opposing signals delivered by LPS and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Cultured CD5+ B cells secrete more IgM than conventional B cells in response to low concentrations of LPS. This increase in LPS-induced IgM production is due to an increased precursor frequency of IgM-secreting cells in CD5+ B cells.