bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Bene Kernel Oil on the Frying Stability of Canola Oil
Authors: Sharayei Parvin , Farhoosh Reza , Poorazrang Hashem , Khodaparast Mohammad Hossein Haddad 
Published: November 2010

AbstractCanola oil (CAO) with (0.05–0.4%) and without added bene kernel oil (BKO) and tert‐butylhydroquinone (TBHQ, 100 ppm) was used for deep‐fat frying of potatoes at 180 °C for 48 h. Frying stability of the oil samples during the frying process was measured based on the variations of total polar compounds (TPC) content, conjugated diene value (CDV), acid value (AV), carbonyl value (CV) and total tocopherols (TT). In general, frying stability of the CAO significantly (P < 0.05) improved in the presence of the TBHQ and BKO. The best frying performance for the CAO was obtained by using of 100 ppm TBHQ and 0.1% BKO. The effectiveness of TBHQ and BKO at these levels was found to be nearly the same. Increasing the level of BKO from 0.1 to 0.4% caused a decrease in the oxidative stability of the CAO, indicating the pro‐oxidant effect of the oils added at these levels.
Cytoreductive Nephrectomy Preceding Adjuvant Immunotherapy for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: 8 Years' Experience in a UK Tertiary Referral Centre
Authors: Martenstein Christian , Phipps Simon , Nabi Ghulam , Riddick Anthony , McLaren Duncan , McNeill Alan 
Published: November 2010

Objective: We report a tertiary referral centre's experience of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) combined with immunotherapy as part of multimodality treatment for metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) over a period of 8 years. Patients and methods: Patients who underwent CN as part of multimodality treatment for mRCC were identified from our nephrectomy database. Demographic characteristics, oncological outcome, reasons for failure to start or to complete immunotherapy, pathological findings and a comparison between open and laparo-scopic CN were evaluated. Results: Forty patients underwent CN for mRCC preceding immunotherapy. 26 (65%) failed to receive immunotherapy. This was most commonly due to poor performance status postoperatively (12/26, 46%). 14 patients (35%) received immunotherapy following surgery and 9 (23%) patients completed treatment. Laparoscopic CN was associated with a significantly lower blood loss, shorter hospital stay and lower rate of transfusion than the open approach. Conclusion: Patients are at significant risk of failure to proceed to adjuvant immunotherapy following CN for mRCC, most commonly due to poor performance status postoperatively. Laparoscopic CN is shown to be safe and effective in well-selected patients. As new targeted treatments for mRCC emerge and their use in combination with CN is evaluated, a detailed and multidisciplinary approach to selection of these patients will continue to be crucial.
Delayed puberty in prenatally glucocorticoid administered female rats occurs independently of the hypothalamic Kiss1–Kiss1r–GnRH system
Authors: Iwasa Takeshi , Matsuzaki Toshiya , Murakami Masahiro , Kinouchi Riyo , Gereltsetseg Ganbat , Yamamoto Satoshi , Kuwahara Akira , Yasui Toshiyuki , Irahara Minoru 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIntrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is an important risk factor for the pathogenesis of diseases after birth. Long‐lasting alterations in the structure and function of tissues and the neuroendocrine system, which are known as ‘programming effects’, increase the risks of these diseases. To investigate the pathophysiology of programming effects, several kinds of IUGR rodent models have been used in experiments. Sexual maturation and the onset of puberty are delayed in these models. We have previously reported that decreased action of hypothalamic kisspeptin, which is a positive regulator of GnRH, contributes to the delayed onset of puberty in undernutrition‐induced IUGR rats. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the hypothalamic Kiss1–Kiss1r–GnRH system is also altered in dexamethasone‐induced IUGR rats. Compared with offspring from an untreated mother (control), offspring from a dexamethasone administered mother (DEX) showed a significant reduction in body weight throughout the experimental period (from birth to the prepubertal period) and the delayed onset of puberty. There were no significant differences between the control and DEX groups with regard to their hypothalamic Kiss1, Kiss1r, GnRH, CRH, NPY and POMC mRNA levels during the experimental period or their serum LH, FSH, or leptin concentrations at postnatal day 28 or vaginal opening (VO). Compared with the control, DEX showed significantly lower ovarian weight at postnatal day 28, but not at VO. These results suggested that the delayed onset of puberty induced by maternal dexamethasone administration would occur independently of hypothalamic Kiss1–Kiss1r–GnRH system.
Mechanism of formation of superdeep sedimentary basins: lithospheric stretching or eclogitization?
Authors: Artyushkov E.V. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
The superdeep North Caspian, South Caspian, and Barents basins have their sedimentary fill much thicker and the Moho, correspondingly, much deeper than it is required for crustal subsidence by lithospheric stretching. In the absence of large gravity anomalies, this crustal structure indicates the presence under the Moho of a thick layer of eclogite which is denser than mantle peridotite. Crustal subsidence in the basins can be explained by high-grade metamorphism of mafic lower crust. The basins produced by lithospheric stretching normally subside for the first ∼100 myr of their history, while at least half of the subsidence in the three basins occurred after that period, which is another evidence against the stretching formation mechanism. According to the seismic reflection profiling data, stretching can be responsible for only a minor part of the subsidence in the Caspian and Barents basins. As for the South Caspian basin, there has been a large recent subsidence event in a setting of compression. Therefore, eclogitization appears to be a realistic mechanism of crustal subsidence in superdeep basins.
Sillimanite group minerals: a new promising raw material for the Russian aluminum industry
Authors: Lepezin G.G. , Kargopolov S.A. , Zhirakovskii V.Yu. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
The raw-material base of the Russian aluminum industry is considered. The raw materials include common (bauxites, nepheline syenites) and uncommon (nepheline ores, synnyrites, anorthosites, power-and-heating plant ashes, kaolines) types of ores. With regard to many criteria (reserves and quality of ores, technology of their processing, etc.), the problem of alumina deficit can be solved by mining sillimanite group minerals Al2SiO5 (wt.%: Al2O3 = 62.9, SiO2 = 37.1), namely, andalusite, sillimanite, and kyanite. Their proved reserves converted to the final product (aluminum) exceed 400 mln tons. This will be enough for more than a hundred years provided that aluminum is produced in the present-day output (4 mln tons in 2008). Almost all deposits can be explored by strip mining, with application of the gravitation, flotation, and electromagnetic separation methods for ore dressing. The alumina content in concentrates reaches 60–62 wt.%. Only high-grade bauxites and the above concentration methods can ensure such a high yield of Al2O3. Sillimanite group minerals can be processed together with nepheline ores by sintering or be used for the direct electrothermal production of silumin and aluminum, excluding the alumina production stage. The latter method is the most promising in Russia.
Local environment and valence state of iron in microinclusions in fibrous diamonds: X-ray absorption and Mössbauer data
Authors: Shiryaev A.A. , Zubavichus Y.V. , Veligzhanin A.A. , McCammon C. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Iron valence state and local environment in a set of fibrous diamonds from Brazilian and Congolese placers were investigated using X-ray absorption and Mössbauer spectroscopies. It is shown that the diamonds could be divided into two main groups differing in the type of dominant Fe-bearing inclusions. In the first group Fe is mostly trivalent and is present in octahedral coordination; diamonds from the second group contain a mixture of Fe2+ and Fe3+, most likely with Fe2+ in dodecahedral coordination. A few other diamonds contain iron in a more reduced state: The presence of metallic Fe and Fe3O4 is inferred from XAS measurements. Spatially resolved XANES and Mössbauer measurements on polished diamond plates show that in some cases the Fe valence state may change considerably between the core and rim, whereas in other cases Fe speciation and valence remain constant. It is shown that Fe valence does not correlate with water and/or carbonate content or ratio, suggesting that iron is a minor element in the growth medium of fibrous diamonds and plays a passive role. This study suggests that, when present, evolution of the C isotopic composition with diamond growth is largely due to changes in chemistry of the growth medium and not due to variations of fO2.
The hybrid procedure for the borderline left ventricle
Authors: Davis Christopher K. , Pastuszko Peter , Lamberti John , Moore John , Hanley Frank , El Said Howaida 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIntroductionIn patients with varying degrees of left heart hypoplasia, it is often difficult to determine whether the left heart structures are adequate in size to support biventricular circulation. Historically, the decision to pursue a single ventricle or biventricular repair needed to be made early and was often irreversible. The hybrid procedure may be a better initial approach for patients with borderline left ventricles.MethodsWe describe a series of four patients with various congenital cardiac malformations, all of whom had borderline left ventricles. Based on pre-operative echocardiograms, several scoring systems and left ventricle volumes were used to predict the optimal type of repair. A left ventricular volume of 20 millilitres per square metre was used as the minimum cut-off value for adequacy of biventricular repair.ResultsThe left ventricular volumes for the patients were 17.1, 23.7, 25.4, and 25.8 millilitres per square metre. In none of the four patients were the calculations unanimous in the recommendation to pursue either type of repair. All patients underwent the hybrid procedure and then eventual single ventricle palliation (two patients) or biventricular repair (two patients). All survived with a mean follow-up of 18 plus or minus 3.9 months.ConclusionsThe hybrid procedure may be the best option in patients with a borderline left ventricle. It can serve as a bridge to a more definitive repair when patients are older, larger, and for whom the decision between single ventricle and biventricular repair can be more easily made.
QT dispersion in childhood obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
Authors: Khositseth Anant , Nantarakchaikul Palinee , Kuptanon Teeradej , Preutthipan Aroonwan 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe difference between maximal and minimal QT interval and corrected QT interval defined as QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion may represent arrhythmogenic risks. This study sought to evaluate QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion in childhood obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Forty-four children (34 male) with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, aged 6.2 plus or minus 3.5 years along with 38 healthy children (25 male), 6.6 plus or minus 2.1 years underwent electrocardiography to measure QT and RR intervals. Means QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion were significantly higher in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome than controls, 52 plus or minus 27 compared to 40 plus or minus 14 milliseconds (p equal to 0.014), and 71 plus or minus 29 compared to 57 plus or minus 19 milliseconds (p equal to 0.010), respectively. Interestingly, QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome with obesity, 57 plus or minus 30 and 73 plus or minus 31 milliseconds, were significantly higher than in control, 40 plus or minus 14 and 57 plus or minus 19 milliseconds (p equal to 0.009 and 0.043, respectively). However, QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome without obesity, 43 plus or minus 20 and 68 plus or minus 26 milliseconds, were not significantly different. In conclusion, QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion were significantly increased only in childhood obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome with obesity. Obesity may be the factor affecting the increased QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion.
Post-operative accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy for adenoid cystic carcinoma
Authors: Sherriff Jennifer , Barthakur Urmila , Sanghera Paul , McConkey Christopher , Rusius Christopher , Hartley Andrew , Glaholm John 
Published: November 2010

AbstractObjective: To examine the outcomes of patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) treated with post-operative accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy (AHRT).Methods: Patients treated with AHRT (50–55 Gy in 20 fractions over 25 days) between 1997 and 2008 were identified and retrospectively analysed. Data collection included site of primary and surgical excision margin. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method.Results: A total of 37 patients meeting the above criteria were identified with a median age of 55 years (range 31–79). Distribution by anatomical site was as follows: parotid 9 patients; submandibular gland 8 patients; other salivary gland tissue 20 patients. Surgical excision margins were as follows: non-involved 25 patients; microscopic involvement 7 patients; macroscopic involvement 4 patients; unknown 1 patient. Median follow-up was 59 (range 14–126) months. Five patients had local recurrence, 4 distant recurrences, and 1 both local and distant recurrence. The 5-year LC and OS rates were 81.8% (95% confidence intervals (CIs) 60.9–92.2) and 78.5% (95% CI 58.0–89.8%), respectively.Conclusion: Outcomes with post-operative AHRT appear comparable to those in the literature. However, until more is known about the radiobiology of this rare disease, a biological equivalent of 60 Gy in 2 gray fractions without correction for accelerated repopulation should be used.
A novel approach to assess mean lethal radiation dose with water proton spin lattice relaxation times
Authors: Akber Syed F. , Kehwar Than S. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe assessment of mean lethal radiation dose (D0) in human organs, using multi-target and linear quadratic models, with water proton nuclear magnetic resonance spin lattice relaxation time yields a correlation coefficient of 0.90 and 0.82, respectively. Results of this study reveal that as the spin lattice relaxation time increases, the D0 decreases.
Image-guided radiation therapy using computed tomography in radiotherapy
Authors: Fung Winky Wing Ki , Wu Vincent Wing Cheung 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe sharp dose gradients in intensity-modulated radiation therapy increase the treatment sensitivity to various inter- and intra-fractional uncertainties, in which a slight anatomical change may greatly alter the actual dose delivered. Image-guided radiotherapy refers to the use of advanced imaging techniques to precisely track and correct these patient-specific variations in routine treatment. It can also monitor organ changes during a radiotherapy course. Currently, image-guided radiotherapy using computed tomography has gained much popularity in radiotherapy verification as it provides volumetric images with soft-tissue contrast for on-line tracking of tumour. This article reviews four types of computed tomography-based image guidance systems and their working principles. The system characteristics and clinical applications of the helical, megavoltage, computed tomography, and kilovoltage, cone-beam, computed tomography systems are discussed, given that they are currently the most commonly used systems for radiotherapy verification. This article also focuses on the recent techniques of soft-tissue contrast enhancement, digital tomosynthesis, four-dimensional fluoroscopic image guidance, and kilovoltage/megavoltage, in-line cone-beam imaging. These evolving systems are expected to take over the conventional two-dimensional verification system in the near future and provide the basis for implementing adaptive radiotherapy.
A qualitative focus group study to explore the information, support and communication needs of women receiving adjuvant radiotherapy for primary breast cancer
Authors: Hendry J.A. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractPurpose: This study aimed to explore the patient’s experience of the radiotherapy pathway with a view to improving patient-centred services.Methods: Women’s views about the radiotherapy pathway were gathered through a focus group. Focus groups have been used extensively in qualitative research to gather rich meaningful data. A thematic analysis of the transcript identified areas of importance for the women, which could be used to direct service improvement.Results: Five main themes emerged: information, communication and support, dignity and individualised care, service accessibility and staff relationships. Generally, staff were viewed as professionals and the radiotherapy service well run although women did identify several unmet needs during radiotherapy. Lack of information and perceived time constraints of busy staff was revealed. However women did feel treated with dignity, respect and as individuals. ‘End-of-treatment’ was a particular focus; women felt dedicated time with staff would enable discussion, information giving and support around this vulnerable time. In addition, women felt that communication barriers and time constraints influenced the information and support they experienced during radiotherapy.Conclusion: The use of a focus group enabled service users to identify clear areas for improvement at a local level. Priorities include information, communication and support and the ‘end-of-treatment’.
Comparison of three-dimensional conformal irradiation techniques for prostate cancer using a low-energy (6 MV) photon beam
Authors: Armpilia Christina , Antypas Christos , Zygogianni Anna , Balafouta Myrsini , Kouvaris John , Sandilos Panagiotis 
Published: November 2010

AbstractPurpose: To evaluate composite coplanar and non-coplanar three-dimensional conformal techniques (3D-CRT) for external-beam prostate radiotherapy using a low-energy (6 MV) photon beam.Methods and Materials: For treatment-planning purposes, three different planning target volumes (PTV) were defined for ten patients with prostate cancer and as follows: PTV1 (pelvis), PTV2 (prostate + seminal vesicles + 1 cm margin) and PTV3 (prostate + 1 cm margin). Conformal techniques of 2, 3, 4, 5 (coplanar) and 6 (non-coplanar) field techniques have been considered and combined to produce five different plan combinations (i.e. techniques A, B, C, D and E). Treatment plans were generated with a prescription dose of 75 Gy to PTV3, 65 Gy to PTV2 and 45 Gy to PTV1 and were assessed on the basis of 3D dose distributions and dose-volume histograms (DVHs). Normal tissue-dose constraints for the relevant organs at risk (OARs), that is, rectum, bladder and femoral heads, were also considered.Results: Findings show that all five treatment-plan combinations result in adequate PTV coverage and acceptable OAR irradiated volumes. The greatest rectal spacing in the high-dose region is achieved by technique C; all techniques achieve this, except for technique A, and give approximately the same fraction of volume (of rectum) that receives a dose of 50 Gy (V50) and 60 Gy (V60). When considering the bladder, techniques B, D and E give the best bladder sparing with small absolute differences, whereas technique A results in the lowest dose for femoral heads. Technique E appears to give the best compromise for all three considered OARs, provided the PTV is adequately covered.Conclusions: Even though the optimum photon-beam energy for conformal prostate radiotherapy is greater than 10 MV, our study shows that a good sparing of OAR can be achieved even with a lower-energy beam (6 MV) and the appropriate plan combination and that the dose to prostate can be as high as 75 Gy.
Influence of catheters on predicted tumour control probability and severity of acute genitourinary toxicity during high-dose-rate brachytherapy prostate boost
Authors: Tunio Mutahir , Hashmi Altaf , Rafi Mansoor , Mohsin Rehan , Zameer Asad 
Published: November 2010

AbstractPurpose: High-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR) boost is an effective method for dose escalation when treating prostate cancer. Optimal number and location of catheters play key role in radiation dose delivery. We studied the impact of catheters and associated trauma on the dose uncertainties and urethral toxicity.Methods and Materials: Between July 2008 to August 2009, 50 patients with prostate cancer were treated with 46 Gy of external irradiation of whole pelvis (2 Gy per fraction) and two HDR brachytherapy fractions (each 14 Gy) at the end of 10 fractions of external beam. All brachytherapy implants were planned using real-time, ultrasound-based planning system. Variables were prostate and urethral volumes, number of catheters and their mean distance from base of bladder and dose volume histogram parameters. All data were collected during first implant only. The toxicities were graded according to Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Toxicity Criteria. Statistical analysis was done on SPSS version 17.0.Results: The mean number of catheters implanted was 12.38 (8–19), and number of attempts per needle to achieve desired position was 1.6 (range = 0–5). Mean distance between the catheters tips to contrast filled bladder was 3.2 mm (1–8 mm) after the adjustment. Distances >5 mm showed lower doses to prostate and lower predicted tumour control probability (TCP) (p < 0.01). No correlation was found between numbers of catheters implanted, attempts per catheter and severity of acute genitourinary (GU) toxicity. Significant correlation was found between severity of acute GU toxicity and urethral V130, V150 (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Dose decline and subsequently lower TCP were seen for the greater distances between the needles and bladder. Acute GU toxicity increased with higher urethral, but severity of acute GU toxicity does not increase with increase in prostate/urethral volumes, number of catheters needles and attempts.
On the nucleotide distribution in bacterial DNA sequences
Authors: Sobottka Marcelo , Hart Andrew Glenn 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIt is probable that the distributional structure of DNA sequences arises from the accumulation of many successive stochastic events such as nucleotide deletions, insertions, substitutions and elongations [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Although the existence of long-range correlations in non-coding portions of DNA sequences is well established [8, 9, 10, 11], first order Markov chains might well capture aspects of their nucleotide distributions [12]. Here we propose a hidden Markov model based on a coupling of an urn process with a Markov chain to approximate the distributional structure of primitive DNA sequences. Then, by supposing that a bacterial DNA sequence can be derived from uniformly distributed mutations of some primitive DNA, we use the model to explain and predict some distributional properties of bacterial DNA sequences. The distributional properties intrinsic to the model were compared to statistical estimates from 1049 bacterial DNA sequences. In particular, the proposed model provides another possible theoretical explanation for Chargaff’s second parity rule for short oligonucleotides [13, 14].