bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors that Influence 12 or More Harvested Lymph Nodes in Early‐Stage Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Hsu Chao‐Wen , Lin Chieh‐Hsin , Wang Jui‐Ho , Wang Hsin‐Tai , Ou Wen‐Chieh , King Tai‐Ming 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBackgroundThe number of lymph nodes required for accurate staging is a critical component in early‐stage (stage A and B) colorectal cancer (CRC). Current guidelines demand at least 12 lymph nodes to be retrieved. Results of previous studies were contradictory in factors, which influenced the number of harvested lymph nodes. This study was designed to determine the factors that influence the number of harvested lymph nodes (≥12) in early‐stage CRC in a single institution.MethodsBetween 2003 and 2007, data on patients who underwent surgery for early‐stage CRC were analyzed retrospectively. Data for a total of 470 patients were collected and all the tumor‐bearing specimens were fixed with node identification performed. Several possible factors that influence 12 or more harvested lymph nodes were investigated and classified into four aspects: (1) operating surgeon, (2) examining pathologist, (3) patient (age, sex, and body mass index), and (4) disease (maximal length of tumor, length of specimen, tumor localization, tumor cell differentiation, Dukes stage, type of resection, and type of tumor).ResultsA total of 289 patients (61.5%) with 12 or more harvested lymph nodes and 181 patients (38.5%) with < 12 lymph nodes were analyzed. The results demonstrate that within a single institution the maximal length of tumor, tumor localization, and depth of tumor invasion according to Dukes stage were independent influencing factors of 12 or more harvested lymph nodes. Maximal length of tumor was associated with more harvested lymph nodes (P < 0.001). Neither the operating surgeon nor the examining pathologist had significant influence on the number of harvested lymph nodes.ConclusionsThe number of harvested lymph nodes was highly variable in patients who underwent resection of early‐stage CRC. Neither the operating surgeon nor the examining pathologist had significant influence on the number of harvested lymph nodes. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the surgeons, disease itself is the most important factor influencing the number of harvested lymph nodes.
Improved Diagnosis of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Using Haptoglobin and Serum Amyloid A in a Panel Screen
Authors: Firpo Matthew A. , Gay David Z. , Granger Steven R. , Scaife Courtney L. , DiSario James A. , Boucher Kenneth M. , Mulvihill Sean J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBackgroundTimely, accurate diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) is hampered by the lack of effective circulating biomarkers. No single test has emerged that improves upon the commonly used biomarker cancer antigen 19–9 (CA 19–9) to discriminate PA from benign conditions effectively. The goals of this study were to validate two acute‐phase proteins, haptoglobin and serum amyloid A (SAA), as biomarkers for PA and determine if the combination of haptoglobin, SAA, and CA 19–9 would improve PA diagnosis over CA 19–9 alone.MethodsLevels of haptoglobin, SAA, and CA 19–9 were measured in pretreatment sera from 75 PA patients, 32 patients with chronic pancreatitis, 42 patients with other benign pancreatic disease or biliary stricture, and 150 healthy control subjects by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay or colorimetric binding assay. Relative levels of haptoglobin or SAA were compared between groups using analysis of variance. The diagnostic accuracy of serum haptoglobin and SAA levels were investigated using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Using classification tree analysis, an algorithm was developed that used haptoglobin, SAA, and CA 19–9 in a diagnostic screening panel.ResultsBoth haptoglobin and SAA were significantly elevated in sera from PA patients compared to healthy control subjects (p < 0.0001) and patients with chronic pancreatitis (p = 0.01). Haptoglobin was significantly elevated in sera from PA patients relative to patients with other benign diseases (p = 0.0015), whereas SAA fell short of significance in the same comparison (p = 0.0508). ROC analysis indicated that haptoglobin [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.792] was a better diagnostic marker than SAA (AUC = 0.691) over multiple threshold cutoffs. Using specific cutoffs that minimized overall misclassification, haptoglobin yielded a sensitivity of 82.7% and a specificity of 71.1%, and SAA yielded a sensitivity of 34.7% and a specificity of 90.2% when discriminating PA cases from all non‐PA controls. In the same sample set, CA 19–9 yielded a sensitivity of 77.3% and a specificity of 91.1%. Combining data from haptoglobin, SAA, and CA 19–9 in a diagnostic screening panel improved the overall accuracy when compared to CA 19–9 alone, yielding a sensitivity of 81.3% and a specificity of 95.5%.ConclusionsThese data demonstrate that haptoglobin and SAA are useful for discriminating PA from benign conditions as well as healthy controls when used in a diagnostic screening panel. This study supports the use of combined biomarkers for improved accuracy in the diagnosis of PA.
Effect of Rikkunshito, a Chinese Herbal Medicine, on Stasis in Patients After Pylorus‐Preserving Gastrectomy
Authors: Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Endo Shunji , Nakajima Kiyokazu , Souma Yoshihito , Nishida Toshirou 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBackgroundDistal gastrectomy (DG) and pylorus‐preserving gastrectomy (PPG) have been employed for gastric cancer, with PPG having been reported to be superior to DG in regard to postoperative quality of life. Some patients with these operations still suffer from gastric stasis, however. In this study, we aimed to examine the clinical effects of rikkunshito on patients who were to undergo PPG.MethodsA total of 11 patients who were scheduled to undergo PPG for early gastric cancer at the Osaka University Hospital were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to the crossover study with and without rikkunshito 7.5 g/day. Questionnaires and emptying tests using 111In‐labeled liquid scintigraphy and 99mTc‐labeled solid scintigraphy were performed at the end of each treatment period.ResultsStasis‐related symptoms were significantly reduced during rikkunshito treatment (p = 0.043). The emptying test showed that rikkunshito improved emptying of solid meals (p = 0.0003) from the remnant stomach but did not accelerate gastric empting of liquid meals.ConclusionsRikkunshito improved gastric emptying and ameliorated postoperative symptoms of patients who had undergone a PPG.
Effect of Growth Temperature on Bamboo-shaped Carbon–Nitrogen (C–N) Nanotubes Synthesized Using Ferrocene Acetonitrile Precursor
Authors: Yadav RamManohar , Dobal PramodSingh , Shripathi T , Katiyar RS , Srivastava ON 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
This investigation deals with the effect of growth temperature on the microstructure, nitrogen content, and crystallinity of C–N nanotubes. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) study reveals that the atomic percentage of nitrogen content in nanotubes decreases with an increase in growth temperature. Transmission electron microscopic investigations indicate that the bamboo compartment distance increases with an increase in growth temperature. The diameter of the nanotubes also increases with increasing growth temperature. Raman modes sharpen while the normalized intensity of the defect mode decreases almost linearly with increasing growth temperature. These changes are attributed to the reduction of defect concentration due to an increase in crystal planar domain sizes in graphite sheets with increasing temperature. Both XPS and Raman spectral observations indicate that the C–N nanotubes grown at lower temperatures possess higher degree of disorder and higher N incorporation.
Removal and Degradation of Phorbol Esters during Pre‐treatment and Transesterification of Jatropha curcas Oil
Authors: Makkar Harinder , Maes Jeroen , De Greyt Wim , Becker Klaus 
Published: December 2008

AbstractPhorbol esters present in Jatropha curcas oil are toxic when consumed and are co‐carcinogens. These could be a potential constraint in the widespread acceptance of Jatropha oil as a source of biodiesel. Phorbol esters were quantified in the fractions obtained at different stages of oil pre‐treatment and biodiesel production. During degumming some phorbol esters were removed in the acid gums and wash water. This implies that the use of these acid gums in animal feed is not possible and care should be taken when disposing the wash water into the environment. Silica treatment did not decrease the phorbol esters, while stripping/deodorization at 260 °C at 3 mbar pressure with 1% steam injection completely degraded phorbol esters. Phorbol esters were not detected in stripped oil, fatty acid distillate, transesterified oil (biodiesel) and glycerine. The presence of possibly toxic phorbol ester degradation products in these fractions could not be ruled out.
Degradation and Nutritional Quality Changes of Oil During Frying
Authors: Aladedunye Felix A. , Przybylski Roman 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe changes in regular canola oil as affected by frying temperature were studied. French fries were fried intermittently in canola oil that was heated for 7 h daily over seven consecutive days. Thermo‐oxidative alterations of the oil heated at 185 ± 5 or 215 ± 5 °C were measured by total polar components (TPC), anisidine value (AV), color components formation, and changes in fatty acid composition and tocopherols. Results showed that TPC, AV, color and trans fatty acid content increased significantly (P < 0.05) as a function of frying temperature and time. The oil polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decreased in direct proportion to frying temperature and time. After 7 days of frying, the amount of PUFA was reduced by half and the trans isomers contribution increased 2.5 times during frying at 215 °C. Of the parameters assessed, total polar component and color had the highest correlation, with correlation coefficients of 0.9650 and 0.9302 for frying at 215 and 185 °C, respectively. TPC formation correlated inversely with the reduction of tocopherols.
Complications with flexible nailing of femur fractures more than double with child obesity and weight >50 kg
Authors: Weiss Jennifer M. , Choi Paul , Ghatan Christine , Skaggs David L. , Kay Robert M. 
Published: December 2008

Background Previous studies report that children above the 95th percentile in weight for their age had an increased risk for complications following titanium elastic nailing for femur fractures. The purpose of this study is to examine whether obesity, defined as body mass index (BMI) > 95th percentile, and/or simple weight correlates with an increased rate of complications. Methods The incidence of complications was compared between obese and non-obese patients and also between patients who weighed ≥50 kg and those <50 kg. Results The overall complication rate was 23% (16/71). The complication rate was 17% (10/58) for “non-obese” patients and 46% (6/13) for “obese” patients. This difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.03). The complication rate was 46% (6/13) in children who weighed ≥50 kg and 17% (10/58) in children who weighed <50 kg. This difference was also statistically significant ( P = 0.03). Conclusions This study demonstrates that obesity (BMI > 95th percentile) and weight over 50 kg predispose patients to increased risk of surgical complications when undergoing flexible elastic nailing for femur fractures. Both obese children and children weighing ≥50 kg were two times more likely to have a complication when undergoing this procedure.
Trespassing on Finnish railways: identification of problem sites and characteristics of trespassing behaviour
Authors: Silla Anne , Luoma Juha 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Introduction
This study identified the sites of frequent trespassing on Finnish railways, investigated trespassing behaviour at selected sites, and explored opinions about preventive measures.

Materials and methods
The study consisted of qualitative and quantitative part. The qualitative part included a survey directed at engine drivers and trespassers interviews whereas the quantitative part was constituted by a more detailed analysis on trespasser behaviour and characteristics of trespassers of selected sites. First, sites with frequent trespassing were explored by a survey directed at engine drivers. In addition, the drivers were also asked for suggestions of potential preventive measures. Second, three locations were chosen for a more detailed investigation which included the counting of trespassers. Third, trespassers at these locations were interviewed.

Results
The results of the survey directed at engine drivers revealed approximately 100 problematic sites. On average about 40 daily trespassers could be observed at selected research sites. The trespassers were typically adults and males. The answers from trespasser interviews showed that the main reason for trespassing is taking a short cut. Half of the respondents assessed that the trespassing is safe and 15% assumed that trespassing is legal. Furthermore, they indicated that the most effective measures to prevent trespassing is fencing the tracks or building an underpass. In fact, the engine drivers usually indicated the same measures.

Discussion
In conclusion, various physical measures should be considered as effective and acceptable preventive measures. However, since many trespassers considered trespassing to be safe and assumed that trespassing is legal, it is worth considering information campaigns as an additional preventive measure.
Ruminal biohydrogenation as affected by tanninsin vitro
Authors: Vasta Valentina , Makkar Harinder P. S. , Mele Marcello , Priolo Alessandro 
Published: December 2008

The aim of the present work was to study the effects of tannins from carob (CT;Ceratonia siliqua), acacia leaves (AT;Acacia cyanophylla) and quebracho (QT;Schinopsis lorentzii) on ruminal biohydrogenationin vitro.The tannins extracted from CT, AT and QT were incubated for 12 h in glass syringes in cow buffered ruminal fluid (BRF) with hay or hay plus concentrate as a substrate. Within each feed, three concentrations of tannins were used (0·0, 0·6 and 1·0 mg/ml BRF). The branched-chain volatile fatty acids, the branched-chain fatty acids and the microbial protein concentration were reduced (P < 0·05) by tannins. In the tannin-containing fermenters, vaccenic acid was accumulated (+23 %,P < 0·01) while stearic acid was reduced ( − 16 %,P < 0·0005). The concentration of total conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers in the BRF was not affected by tannins. The assay on linoleic acid isomerase (LA-I) showed that the enzyme activity (nmol CLA produced/min per mg protein) was unaffected by the inclusion of tannins in the fermenters. However, the CLA produced by LA-I (nmol/ml per min) was lower in the presence of tannins. These results suggest that tannins reduce ruminal biohydrogenation through the inhibition of the activity of ruminal micro-organisms.
Worldwide variability of insecticide resistance mechanisms in the codling moth, Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Authors: Reyes M. , Franck P. , Olivares J. , Margaritopoulos J. , Knight A. , Sauphanor B. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe activity of detoxifying enzymes (glutathione-S-transferases (GST), mixed-function oxidases (MFO), and esterases (EST)) and the presence of insensitive variants of target proteins (sodium channel and acetylcholinesterase) were examined in individual male and female codling moths. Twenty-nine populations from 11 countries and two laboratory strains were examined. Populations were classified as either unsprayed or sprayed. The ranges of enzyme activities across field populations varied 15-fold, 485-fold and fourfold for GST, MFO and EST, respectively. MFO was the only enzyme whose activity differed in a binomial classification of orchards based on their spray history. Few differences in enzyme activities were found due to sex among populations; and, in these cases, males had higher GST and lower MFO and EST activities than females. Activities of the three enzymatic systems across all populations were positively correlated. Populations from Greece, Argentina and Uruguay had significant percentages of moths with elevated GST and MFO activities. The co-occurrence of moths expressing both elevated MFO and low EST activities was found in conventional orchards from the Czech Republic and France. Chile was the only country where populations from treated orchards did not include a significant proportion of individuals with enhanced enzyme activity. The kdr mutation was found at significant levels in ten populations from five countries, including all French and Argentinean populations. The mutation in AChE was only detected in the Spanish population.
Phylogenetic analysis indicates thatCulicoides dewulfishould not be considered part of theCulicoides obsoletuscomplex
Authors: Schwenkenbecher J.M. , Mordue (Luntz) A.J. , Piertney S.B. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAnalysis of DNA sequence data has proven invaluable for defining the relationships among taxa, as well as resolving their evolutionary histories. Here, we analyzed DNA sequence variation of one mitochondrial gene (COI) and two nuclear regions (ITSI and II) to clarify the phylogenetic position ofCulicoides dewulfi, a midge species widely spread in Europe and a suspected vector for bluetongue virus. Various authors have describedC. dewulfieither as part of theCulicoides obsoletus sensu latocomplex or as a separate taxonomic group. A maximum likelihood phylogeny, based upon an optimal model of sequence evolution, placedC. dewulfioutwith theC. obsoletus s.l. complex. Shimodaira-Hasegawa test highlighted that this topology was significantly more likely than any topology that placedC. dewulfianywhere else in the phylogeny. As such,C. dewulfishould not be considered part of theC.obsoletus s.l. complex and instead be treated as a separate group, phylogenetically close to the classical Old World vectorC. imicola.
Seasonal progression of sex ratio and phytoplasma infection in Scaphoideus titanus Ball (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
Authors: Lessio F. , Tedeschi R. , Pajoro M. , Alma A. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe differences between the seasonal occurrence and likelihood of being infected by FD phytoplasmas, of male and female Scaphoideus titanus Ball, were investigated. Sex ratio (male: female) was calculated by counting males and females sampled by means of yellow sticky traps and sweep-nets and from adults derived from hatched eggs in field-collected grapevine wood. PCR essays were performed to test differences in infection between genders. Overall, the sex ratio on sticky traps was significantly more male biased (1.99:1) if compared to net sweeping (0.62:1) and laboratory rearing (0.60:1). The peak of male presence was recorded in the middle of July in laboratory rearing and sweep net, and in the middle of August on sticky traps; the maximum presence of females was detected at the end of July in laboratory rearing, and at the end of August in sweep net samplings and on sticky traps. The seasonal sex ratio was more male biased at the beginning in laboratory rearing (1.50:1) and sticky traps (9:1), and then decreased in favor of females at the end of the sampling period, both in laboratory rearing (0.17:1) and in sticky traps (0.07:1). This trend was significantly less skewed, although similar, in sweep net samplings that recorded a sex ratio of 1:1 and 0.16:1 at the beginning and at the end of the sampling period, respectively. Concerning phytoplasma detection, an interaction between gender and sampling period was observed, the males showing a peak of infected individuals later in the season (35%). Some possible behavioral explanations of the data obtained are given.
The acquisition of morphosyntax in Italian: A cross-sectional study
Authors: CAPRIN CLAUDIA , GUASTI MARIA TERESA 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTThis study provides new evidence concerning the pattern of acquisition of free and bound morphemes in Italian, based on the speech of 59 children recorded through a cross-sectional method. We found that inflectional morphology is mastered before free-standing morphology. Despite the great variety of verb inflections, the analyses showed that children partially master present indicative from early productions. Although free-standing morphemes are used correctly, they are optionally omitted. Here we have explored the use and omission of articles, clitics, the copula, and auxiliaries and have shown that omission is subject to certain constraints. Articles are mainly omitted from the root of the clause, much as null subjects, because from this position the requirement of clausal identification is voided. A higher omission of accusative clitics than dative clitics was observed that has also been explained in terms of the uniqueness checking constraint: accusative, but not dative clitics need to check the D feature twice, because the former, but not the latter, trigger past particle agreement. The uniqueness checking constraint has been adopted to explain the higher omission of auxiliaries with respect to the copula: the former, but not the latter, have to check the T feature twice. Together, these findings suggest that children omit, but in principled ways.
Relation of auditory attention and complex sentence comprehension in children with specific language impairment: A preliminary study
Authors: MONTGOMERY JAMES W. , EVANS JULIA L. , GILLAM RONALD B. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTWe investigated the relation of two dimensions of attentional functioning (sustained auditory attention and resource capacity/allocation) and complex sentence comprehension of children with specific language impairment (SLI) and a group of typically developing (TD) children matched for age. Twenty-six school-age children with SLI and 26 TD peers completed an auditory continuous performance task (ACPT, measure of sustained attention), a concurrent verbal processing-storage task (measure of resource capacity/allocation), and a picture pointing comprehension task. Correlation analyses were run to determine the association between the measures of attention and sentence comprehension. The SLI group performed more poorly than the TD group across all tasks. For the SLI group, even after removing the effects of age, ACPT score and performance on the concurrent processing-storage task still significantly correlated with complex sentence comprehension. Sustained attention also correlated with simple sentence comprehension. Neither attention variable correlated with sentence comprehension in the TD children. For children with SLI, the comprehension of complex grammar appears to involve significant use of sustained attention and resource capacity/allocation. Even simple sentence comprehension requires significant auditory vigilance. In the case of TD children, neither complex nor simple sentence comprehension appears to invoke significant attentional involvement.
The development of vocabulary in English as a second language children and its role in predicting word recognition ability
Authors: JEAN MAUREEN , GEVA ESTHER 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTDo older English as a second language (ESL) children have the same knowledge of word meanings as English as a first language (EL1) children? How important is vocabulary's role in predicting word recognition in these groups? This study sought to answer these questions by examining the profiles of ESL and EL1 upper elementary aged children, for a 2-year period starting in Grade 5. Multivariate analyses revealed that (a) EL1 and ESL groups did not differ on underlying processing components (e.g., phonological awareness [PA], rapid automatized naming [RAN], and working memory [WM]) or on word recognition, but ESL children continued to lag behind their EL1 peers on knowledge of word meanings that correspond approximately to their grade level; and (b) vocabulary knowledge (root words and receptive vocabulary), explained a small proportion of additional variance on word recognition concurrently and longitudinally after accounting for the contributions of PA, RAN, and WM.